The Hirsch h index in a non-mainstream area: methodology of the behavioral sciences in Spain.
The h index has advantages over journal impact factors for assessing the research performance of individuals, and it is becoming a reference tool for career assessment that is starting to be considered by some agencies as an aid in decisions for promotion, allocation, and funding. The h index has been reported to have adequate properties as a measure of the research accomplishments of individuals in areas where h values are usually high (i.e., at or above 40), but some concerns have been raised that its validity in other non-mainstream research areas is suspect. This paper presents data from an exhaustive computation and analysis of h indices for 204 faculty members in the area of Methodology of the Behavioral Sciences in Spain, an area where h indices tend to be low worldwide. The results indicate that the h index is substantially increased by self-citations and that the average h of full professors is not meaningfully larger than the average h of associate professors. Other interesting relations between h indices and demographic and academic variables are described, including the gender and age bias of h. In this field, but perhaps also in other fields where the average h is low, little justification is found for the use of the h index as a fair measure of research performance that can aid in funding or promotion decisions.
García-Pérez
Miguel A
MA
Departamento de Metodología, Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Complutense, Campus de Somosaguas, 28223 Madrid, Spain. miguel@psi.ucm.es
D000124:Achievement; D001525:Behavioral Sciences / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015982:Bias; D015706:Bibliometrics; D002322:Career Mobility; D005178:Faculty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D055811:Journal Impact Factor; D008297:Male; D011287:Prejudice; D011643:Publishing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012106:Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013030:Spain