A quantitative analysis of indicators of scientific performance

Sune Lehmann Jørgensen; Andrew D. Jackson; Benny E. Lautrup

doi:10.1007/s11192-007-1868-8

A quantitative analysis of indicators of scientific performance

Sune Lehmann Jørgensen, Andrew D. Jackson, Benny E. Lautrup

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

Condensing the work of any academic scientist into a one-dimensional indicator of scientific performance is a difficult problem. Here, we employ Bayesian statistics to analyze several different indicators of scientific performance. Specifically, we determine each indicator’s ability to discriminate between scientific authors. Using scaling arguments, we demonstrate that the best of these indicators require approximately 50 papers to draw conclusions regarding long term scientific performance with usefully small statistical uncertainties. Further, the approach described here permits statistical comparison of scientists working in distinct areas of science.

Original language	English
Journal	Scientometrics
Volume	76
Issue number	2
Pages (from-to)	369-390
ISSN	0138-9130
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-007-1868-8
Publication status	Published - 2008
Externally published	Yes

Access to Document

10.1007/s11192-007-1868-8

OpenUrl availability

Full text

Cite this

@article{fdd1e3a779a8449784fe6c2310862403,

title = "A quantitative analysis of indicators of scientific performance",

abstract = "Condensing the work of any academic scientist into a one-dimensional indicator of scientific performance is a difficult problem. Here, we employ Bayesian statistics to analyze several different indicators of scientific performance. Specifically, we determine each indicator{\textquoteright}s ability to discriminate between scientific authors. Using scaling arguments, we demonstrate that the best of these indicators require approximately 50 papers to draw conclusions regarding long term scientific performance with usefully small statistical uncertainties. Further, the approach described here permits statistical comparison of scientists working in distinct areas of science.",

author = "J{\o}rgensen, {Sune Lehmann} and Jackson, {Andrew D.} and Lautrup, {Benny E.}",

year = "2008",

doi = "10.1007/s11192-007-1868-8",

language = "English",

volume = "76",

pages = "369--390",

journal = "Scientometrics",

issn = "0138-9130",

publisher = "Akademiai Kiado Rt.",

number = "2",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - A quantitative analysis of indicators of scientific performance

AU - Jørgensen, Sune Lehmann

AU - Jackson, Andrew D.

AU - Lautrup, Benny E.

PY - 2008

Y1 - 2008

N2 - Condensing the work of any academic scientist into a one-dimensional indicator of scientific performance is a difficult problem. Here, we employ Bayesian statistics to analyze several different indicators of scientific performance. Specifically, we determine each indicator’s ability to discriminate between scientific authors. Using scaling arguments, we demonstrate that the best of these indicators require approximately 50 papers to draw conclusions regarding long term scientific performance with usefully small statistical uncertainties. Further, the approach described here permits statistical comparison of scientists working in distinct areas of science.

AB - Condensing the work of any academic scientist into a one-dimensional indicator of scientific performance is a difficult problem. Here, we employ Bayesian statistics to analyze several different indicators of scientific performance. Specifically, we determine each indicator’s ability to discriminate between scientific authors. Using scaling arguments, we demonstrate that the best of these indicators require approximately 50 papers to draw conclusions regarding long term scientific performance with usefully small statistical uncertainties. Further, the approach described here permits statistical comparison of scientists working in distinct areas of science.

U2 - 10.1007/s11192-007-1868-8

DO - 10.1007/s11192-007-1868-8

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0138-9130

VL - 76

SP - 369

EP - 390

JO - Scientometrics

JF - Scientometrics

IS - 2

ER -

A quantitative analysis of indicators of scientific performance

Abstract

Access to Document

OpenUrl availability

Fingerprint

Cite this