EVALUATING RESEARCH USING IMPACT AND HIRSCH FACTORS WHY SUCH LARGE DIFFERENCES FOR DIFFERENT FIELDS?

摘要

Impact factors of the journals and Hirsch index are commonly used to evaluate researchers from close but different areas who are compelled to compete for the same funding and positions. But theses factors depend strongly on the area without a clear foundation. A straightforward normalization would allow comparing different researchers and areas more fairly. It is widely admitted, from empirical evidence, that the Hirsch indexes [1],h, (both, mean values and top values) depend strongly on the area and that only h of individuals from the same area should be compared. For example, h indexes in biochemistry are, in general, much higher than in mathematics. But the origin of these variations from one area to the other is unclear.