[The citation frequency for prominent researchers in HNO medical science. Scientometric follow-up of German scientists over 10 years].
BACKGROUND
In 1995, 18 scientists involved in research on otorhinolaryngology in Germany (median of age 55 years; one woman) entered the Who is Who of German medical research because of their top citation rates in the worldwide Science Citation Index (SCI). Their publications were cited about 12 times as often as those of colleagues with an habilitation or professorship. Are their publications equally important in international research activity 10 years later?


METHODS
Investigations were carried out using SCI 2002.


RESULTS
Seventeen of the former stars still publish from Germany. Their total citation rate has remained almost unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
The stability and the large individual differences in citation rates indicate that a personal dimension is present, here called "research-talent", i.e. the ability to produce research of high quality. Internationally highly successful researchers reach their maximum productivity at about 40 years of age and maintain it even after official retirement. Therefore, there is little risk in promoting them and their projects. Moreover, they serve as examples for their colleagues and the rising scientific generation on how to do internationally successful research.
Lehrl
S
S
Bereich für Medizinische Psychologie und Medizinische Soziologie, Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie der Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg. siegfried.lehrl@psych.imed.uni-erlangen.de
D001319:Authorship; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D010036:Otolaryngology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011643:Publishing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*