By JohnK — Jan 20, 2025
What Is an h-Index? A Simple Guide for Researchers
The h-index is a number that represents both the productivity and impact of a researcher’s work. It is calculated based on the number of published papers and how often those papers are cited.
Example Calculation
Suppose a researcher has the following papers and citation counts:
Paper A - 50 citations
Paper B - 30 citations
Paper C - 20 citations
Paper D - 15 citations
Paper E - 10 citations
Paper F - 8 citations
Paper G - 7 citations
Paper H - 6 citations
Paper I - 5 citations
Paper J - 3 citationsFinding the h-Index
The h-index is the highest number h where the researcher has at least h papers with atleast h citations each.
In this case, there are 7 papers with at least 7 citations each, but not 8 paperswith at least 8 citations. So, the h-index is 7.
Why the h-Index Matters
- It balances quantity (number of papers) and quality (citations).
- Prevents misleading rankings caused by a single highly cited paper.
- Helps compare researchers within the same field.
Limitations of the h-Index
- Different databases (Scopus, Google Scholar) may give different h-index values.
- Favours established researchers over early-career academics.
- Does not account for field-specific citation patterns.