Early career researchers trying to make a mark in their field often strive to get their work published in leading journals. However, while being prolific may indicate a high level of research activity, it does not necessarily reflect the actual impact of a researcher’s work. It is also important to consider the quality and influence of their research. This is where the h-index proves helpful – as it offers a nuanced assessment of academic performance instead of simply counting the number of articles published.
What is the h-index
The h-index provides a data-driven approach to evaluating a researcher’s academic productivity and citation impact. Created by physicist Jorge E. Hirsch in 2005, the h-index is presented as a single number that conveys both the quantity and quality of a researcher’s academic output. By doing so, the h-index helps distinguish between researchers who consistently contribute impactful work and those whose work, while large in quantity, is seen as less impactful.
Calculating the h-index is simple. An h-index of 8, for example, would mean that a researcher has published 8 papers that have each received at least 8 citations. In other words, it not only accounts for the number of publications but also considers how often the articles have been cited.
Calculating h-index on Scopus
Scopus, a leading academic database, provides a convenient way to calculate your h-index. Researchers with profiles in Scopus can view their h-index in the database, along with other metrics like citation counts, co-authorship networks, and publication history. Here is a step-by-step guide on calculating your h-index on Scopus:
1. Register and log into Scopus: Log in to Scopus using your institutional access credentials. If you do not have an account, create one for free.
2. Choose the ‘author search’ tab: Type your name and institution in the search bar to find your profile. Typically, a list appears with different variations and combinations of your name, institution, or subject area. Check all the appropriate entries and click search.
3. Review your publications: Once you open your profile page, find the tab labelled ‘Metrics’ near the top of the page and click through to see a list of your publications. Verify that all your relevant works are listed and accurately attributed to you. This list is usually shown in order of publication year and can be changed, if desired, into an order by citations.
4. Calculate your h-index on Scopus: Scopus automatically calculates the h-index based on both the number of your publications and the number of citations received. You will find your h-index, total citations, and number of publications displayed in the metrics section on your dashboard. Articles that are not yours can be deleted from the list, and those that are missing can be added, and the Scopus h-index for authors will be recalculated. Clicking on the h-graph gives you a visual presentation of the data.
Following these simple steps will help you find your current h-index on Scopus and enable you to monitor your academic impact continuously.
Scopus vs. Google Scholar: Understanding the Differences
While both Scopus and Google Scholar provide h-index calculations, there are notable differences in their usability, coverage, metrics, and the way they arrive at the h-index.
Database coverage
Scopus is a subscription-based academic database that offers a curated selection of peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, and books across various disciplines. It uses a fairly stringent process to ensure that only high-quality publications are included. On the other hand, Google Scholar has a broader coverage that provides for academic documents that can be found online. However, researchers need to be alert when using Google Scholar as it also includes content from predatory publishers in addition to grey literature like theses and technical reports, which lack quality checks.
Citations Count
Scopus and Google Scholar have significant differences in calculating citation counts due to their distinct indexing practices. Scopus usually comes up with a lower citation count because it only takes peer-reviewed sources into account. In contrast, Google Scholar typically includes self-citations and citations from non-peer-reviewed sources, which results in a higher citation count. Consequently, this leads to variations in the h-index, which will naturally be lower on Scopus than Google Scholar, given that Scopus excludes non-scholarly sources when listing citations.
Managing your H-Index
Keeping track of your h-index and making efforts to improve it can prove valuable for early-career researchers who are looking to grow and strengthen their careers. Here are some proven tips to improve your h-index –
- Engage with the community, attend conferences, present your work, and participate in discussions to raise your visibility and increase citations
- To get published, target reputable and high-impact journals, as articles published in these journals are often cited more
- Actively share your research through various platforms, including social media channels and academic networking sites. This can help increase your visibility and citation rates
- Collaborate with others, as this can lead to more impactful publications and increase your h-index. Collaborative projects can also open doors for increased citations, as they often result in more diverse and influential publications
- Keep your Scopus profile updated because an accurate profile on a reputed academic database ensures that your h-index reflects your true academic impact. That is why it is imperative to keep your work updated on Scopus
- Regularly check your h-index on platforms like Scopus and Google Scholar to track your progress and identify areas for improvement
Finally, by understanding the h-index’s significance and following the aforementioned tips, researchers can strategically manage their academic profiles and enhance their scholarly influence.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why might my h-index differ between databases?
Differences in indexing policies, author identification algorithms, citation counts, and publication entries between databases can lead to discrepancies in your h-index. Google Scholar often includes a wider array of sources, which can raise citation counts compared to Scopus.
- How often is the h-index updated in Scopus?
Scopus updates author profiles frequently, in fact, daily, as new publications and citations are added. However, the frequency may vary slightly depending on the source of the publication.
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