The h-Index: Understanding its predictors, significance, and criticism

Abstract

The h-index is an author-level scientometric index used to gauge the significance of a researcher's work. The index is determined by taking the number of publications and the number of times these publications have been cited by others. Although it is widely used in academia, many authors find its calculation confusing. There are websites such as Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science (WOS), and Vidwan that provide the h-index of an author. As this metrics is frequently used by recruiting agency and grant approving authority to see the output of researchers, the authors need to know in-depth about it. In this article, we describe both the manual calculation method of the h-index and the details of websites that provide an automated calculation. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the h-index and the factors that determine the h-index of an author. Overall, this article serves as a comprehensive guide for novice authors seeking to understand the h-index and its significance in academia.

Research on coronavirus disease 2019 and the kidney: A bibliometric analysis

“…Using the R “Biblioshiny” package, we obtained H, G, and M indices and total citations. The H-index is an indicator based on the number of publications and citations; that is, there are H articles cited at least H times [ 19 , 20 ]. However, highly cited papers influence the H-index, so its derivative, the G-index, was used instead, which means that there are G articles that have a cumulative citation count of at least G 2 [ 21 ].…”

Analyzing Emerging Trends in Wireless Implantable Medical Devices (IMDs): A Bibliometric Study

“…In this ranking, Rogers has the highest H-index. It should be noted that various factors, such as the database utilized in the bibliometric study, can impact the H-index [48]. Generally, Google Scholar yields a higher H-index compared to Scopus and WOS.…”

h Index and its limitations

“…Mondal et al . [ 1 ] analyse h index when they understand its predictors, significance and criticism in their Editorial published in the November 2023 issue of the Journal. Therein they underscore how to calculate its value, where to find it, why it differs across various platforms, its advantages and limitations and also its usage.…”