One of the most common scientometric indicators used to determine the productivity and influence of a researcher is the Hirsch index. In today's article, we will discuss in detail what it is, how to calculate it, and what methods exist to increase it.
What is the Hirsch index?
The Hirsch index, or h-index, shows how often an author's scientific works are read and cited by colleagues. This, in turn, reflects the influence they have in scientific circles.
The need to use the Hirsch index is related to the peculiarities of publication activity in the scientific community. A researcher may have numerous scientific publications but a small number of citations and references to them. Or, conversely, one frequently cited scientific work and a number of publications that remain unnoticed. Calculating the Hirsch index makes it possible to determine the balance between these indicators and see the degree of interest of other scientists in the author's works.
How to calculate the h-index?
The formula for calculating the indicator can be formulated as follows: if N works by an author are cited at least N times, then their Hirsch index will be equal to N.
To calculate the Hirsch index yourself, you need to:
- Make a list of your scientific works.
- Count the number of references to each one.
- Arrange them in descending order of the number of citations.
- Find the last scientific work, the number of citations to which exceeds or equals its ordinal number in the list – this will be the Hirsch index.
Let's demonstrate the calculation with an example:
| Scientific works | Scientists | |
| 1 | 2 | |
| Number of citations to works | ||
| Article No. 1 | 10 | 12 |
| Article No. 2 | 7 | 9 |
| Article No. 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Article No. 4 | 4 | 6 |
| Article No. 5 | 2 | 5 |
| Article No. 6 | 1 | 2 |
| h-index | 4 | 5 |
In this example, for the first researcher, the fourth article has a number of citations greater than or equal to its ordinal number. That is, his Hirsch index is 4.
For the second researcher, the fifth article has a number of citations greater than or equal to its ordinal number. His Hirsch index is 5.
What does the Hirsch index give a scientist?
A high h-index opens up many opportunities for a scientist, as it demonstrates the effectiveness of their research and authority in the scientific community. This indicator is taken into account, in particular, when:
- considering candidates for prestigious positions
- distributing grants, scholarships and research funding
- inviting participants to scientific conferences
- compiling ratings of higher education institutions and ratings of the best scientists
- selecting participants for international scientific projects
Strategies for increasing the Hirsch index
Writing scientific papers on topical issues
The number of citations to a scientific paper is related to the relevance of its topic. Choose research areas that are the focus of the scientific community and reflect new challenges and contemporary issues. Such topics are more likely to attract the attention of other scientists and have a higher citation potential.
Publishing in prestigious scientific journals
Choose scientific journals that are indexed in prestigious international scientometric databases, such as Scopus and Web of Science. The authority of the journal directly affects the audience reach and number of citations of your scientific work.
Co-authoring with other scientists
Co-authorship allows you to create more ambitious and diverse projects that may be of interest to colleagues from around the world and have a high chance of being cited. This helps to increase the reach and recognition of scientific publications. Therefore, it is worth establishing partnerships with colleagues at both the national and international levels to create joint scientific works.
Ethical self-citation
If new research logically follows on from previous work, be sure to refer to it. This will help to gradually increase the citation rate of your key scientific works.
At the same time, it is important to avoid excessive self-citation and references to your past scientific articles in the absence of objective reasons. Such a practice can lead to a loss of trust on the part of colleagues and negatively affect the perception of your subsequent research in the scientific community.
Optimising the metadata of your scientific work
- Think carefully about the title. Choose a title that clearly reflects the essence of your research, avoiding general phrases and vague wording. Please note that some scientific journals do not recommend or even prohibit the use of keywords in the titles of scientific articles. Therefore, it is important to familiarise yourself in advance with the requirements of the publication in which you plan to publish.
- Pay attention to the abstract. The abstract is a kind of business card for your scientific work and the first part of it that the reader will see. To attract the widest possible audience, it is important to make it as informative as possible. After all, it is on the basis of the abstract that readers will decide whether to proceed to the full text. The content of the abstract should describe the relevance of the issue, the purpose of the research, the methodological justification, the results and the practical value of the scientific work.
- Use carefully selected keywords. Select keywords for search engine optimisation of your work – this will help it appear more often in search results. Usually, five to seven keywords are used. It is worth choosing words that are frequently repeated in the main text.
Promotion on social media
Register on social networks for scientists, such as ResearchGate, and post links to your scientific publications there. On ResearchGate, you can publish your scientific works, join discussions on professional issues and news, receive feedback from colleagues, and expand your professional network. An active presence on this platform helps to increase your visibility in the scientific community and improve the visibility of your research, as well as increase the number of professional contacts. Over time, these factors can have a positive impact on the citation rate of your scientific works.
In addition, you can share them on traditional social networks. LinkedIn and Facebook are best suited for scientists, but you can also find an audience on TikTok and Instagram.
If you need to increase your Hirsch index, contact Scientific Publications! We will ensure an organic increase in this indicator and help you take the next step in the development of your scientific activity. Let's move towards new career heights together!
