Methods for Increasing the Hirsch Index in Scientific Papers
The Hirsch index is used in the scientific community as a way to measure publication activity - for publications of teachers, scientists, postgraduates, authors. The Hirsch index (citation by references) allows you to determine with sufficient accuracy the level of training of an applicant for an academic degree. Or make a choice in favor of a more productive candidate for the position.
Despite the fact that the Hirsch index, as a method of effective selection and evaluation, has been used for a long time, and its relevance leaves no doubt, the scientific community does not cease to debate about the scope of its application. And even more so - what method to choose to achieve its high indicators and ensure an increase for publications.
To learn how to manage this method, you need to familiarize yourself with its essence and operating principle. As well as the factors that influence the Hirsch index, citation by links and its increase.
What is the Hirsch method and why increase it
Publication, editions, number of pages, overall activity and citations are traditional indicators that clearly demonstrate a propensity for research and the ability to present high results. Since the significance of the research itself is practically not subject to any measurable assessments, the Argentine-American physicist Jorge Hirsch took on the problem of quantitative analysis as an indicator of the activity of scientists-authors.
In 2005, he published his work "Index for quantitative evaluation of scientific research results", in which he outlined an innovative development. Later it was called the "Hirsch index" indicator (h-index method), which affects citation in the form of links to pages.
The scientist proposed a new, weighted indicator as a way to measure and compare the density of work of "colleagues in the shop", namely, physicists. The value of the "Hirsch index", or citation of publications by references, according to his developments, is determined based on the publication activity and frequency of citation of the entire list of publications.
Formula for calculating the h-index (Hirsch index):
The scientist has an index h, If h from his/her Np articles are cited at least h each time, while the remaining (Np — h) articles are cited no more than h once each.
This means that: if a scientist has published, for example, 50 articles, each of which has at least 2 references, then the Hirsch index = 2. A similar h-index will be for a scientist who has published 2 articles, each of which has 50 citations. However, this is an exaggerated example. In practice, more complex components are measured.
Thus, in the case of publishing tens and hundreds of articles with varying degrees of citation, the number of articles whose serial number does not exceed the number of references to them is taken into account. Articles are placed in the order in which the citation of publications by references decreases.
The Hirsch index has been recognized as a scientometric indicator, with its help it is recommended to measure the productivity and citation of not only individual scientists, but entire communities, organizations, schools, projects, groups and even states. Its increase means an increase in status.
In connection with the appearance of the measuring tool of the format "Hirsch index", in the scientific community there was a need to increase its indicator. As a result, citing the list of publications by links to pages. Since they depend on the increase in the assessment of the activities of each scientist. The Hirsch index method, as a convenient indicator, can become a decisive argument when choosing a candidate for a position or for participation in an important project. Or for analyzing the scale of the scientist's activities, the degree of his influence on the development of the chosen professional direction in science. This method allows you to compile ratings that cannot be disputed. However, it is possible to increase them, along with the h-index and other indicators.
Effective Ways to Increase the Hirsch Index in Scientific Papers
In the interpretation of the concept proposed by Hirsch, it is not enough to conduct research and confirm it by presenting high results in the format of "publication". Now it is necessary to create a kind of product that will be in demand in the scientific community and initiate further citation. The proof is provided by references to the work added to the articles of other scientists, or the "Hirsch index" method.
Thus, over the last almost 2 decades, a new method of presenting material to the public has been in operation in the scientific field – these are marketing tools. Their task is to increase demand for an article as a “scientific product” and its citation. The more often colleagues turn to the pages of the original source text, the more relevant and valuable this or that research is in the eyes of the scientific community.
In order not to end up on the margins of the scientific world, as an unpopular author and misunderstood researcher, despite all the intense publication and, in general, scientific activity, it is necessary to work on the citation of your articles and, in general, texts. Thus, to increase your "Hirsch index" method and other indicators. In practice, this method is quite well amenable not only to analysis, but also to regulation.
Is it possible? Not only is there a positive answer to this question, but it also suggests using a method from several effective ones to ensure a significant increase in the h-index of Hirsch and increase citation. It is enough to try at least one of them for the success of articles to become obvious in this improvised scientific market.
Method 1. Improving the quality of scientific research
Science creativity in its pure form and the publication associated with it is an exclusively creative process. Its result is not only the "Hirsch index" method and citation, but also: developments, proposals, recommendations, discoveries, identification of patterns, reasonable clarification of formulations accepted in the academic environment - everything that has an important property for science.
This method implies scientific novelty, since its increased presence is an important sign of the significance of a multi-page work. It is precisely this that becomes the key factor in favor of recognizing the researcher as worthy of an academic degree based on the results of defending the dissertation.
Research, the material of which contains scientific novelty, is clearly structured and has certain sections. The same structure is borrowed by articles when submitted to a journal. This is a generally accepted way by which the achievements of a scientist are presented in a generally accepted form and influences the Hirsch index method, as well as other indicators.
The quality of the publication and its improvement - first of all, it is a verified presentation of the material on each page of the text. Scientific, laconic style, strict compliance with the meaning of the terms used make the high result of the work understandable to fellow scientists from each page. At the same time, consistent presentation, confirmation of argumentation with facts, disclosure of the essence in an exciting, but not populist, form make the material truly interesting and worthy of attention. This increases not only the Hirsch index, but also other significant indicators.
On the contrary, an abundance of empty phrases ("water"), inappropriate epithets, repetitions, vague meaning and obvious inconsistency of parts and even entire pages of text reduce its quality and devalue the work itself. This method of popularizing science is a waste of time.
Method 2. Publishing an article: following the rules
On the one hand, the rules of text creation are observed in any case. On the other hand, academic writing is quite formalized, so that authors sometimes get carried away with decorating entire pages of text and gradually become involved in journalism. Increasing the citation of the text page by page becomes problematic in this case. Here, another method is required, or a way of qualitatively improving the text, where work with each page will be important.
In order not to be among such authors, the article material must be carefully checked for compliance with the required structure. The Hirsch index and its increase also depend on this. It is also necessary to exclude unnecessary formulations that weigh down entire pages of text. It should be easy to read, but not distract the reader from the central idea.
Basic requirements for scientific texts:
- A well-built text on each page will be quickly indexed by search engines on the global network. It will be “noticed” by the “Hirsch index” method and similar indicators. And for this, keyword placement is necessary. The demand for keys and their combinations is shown in open access by tools for analyzing the statistics of requests from users on the Internet. This is a way to find out the necessary keys in meaning, from the presence of which any publication will benefit.
- The presence of an abstract, preferably in two languages. Usually this is a "dry squeeze" from the article, conveying its main essence. A competently composed abstract leads to the text of readers who are truly interested in the content. Who will be confident in the material that is posted on its pages. This means an increase in citation and an increase in the h-index.
- Quotes with links to pages in current sources. A number of areas require regular updates. From the revision of points of view, the appearance of the latest, promptly published factual data, the previous publication automatically "ages". Therefore, the dynamics of this factor must be constantly monitored and worked on to improve it, reading each page.
- The design of the list of sources is as important as the presence of a certain structure in the article - introduction, relevance, presentation of its high results (the main text, the "body" of the article), conclusions. The literature used serves as confirmation of borrowings and clearly demonstrates the ability to select sources. A relevant list is one of the criteria by which relevance is judged.
A properly formatted article serves as a role model and increases the Hirsch index method, along with other indicators. This is a way to make it an object to which people will refer. The article should represent a content and design value in the eyes of followers, which is what the increase in the citation level is aimed at.
Method 3. Writing articles in English
The Russian-language segment of scientific creativity, despite its scale, is still inferior in volume to English-language scientometric databases and sources. Articles in English have a good chance of getting into a thematic foreign journal and playing on increasing the author's "Hirsch index". And also affecting other indicators.
English-language articles are read not only in English-speaking countries, but the increasing prevalence of the language has made it a world leader in the field of knowledge transfer. A well-written, structured and formatted article submitted to a journal that is listed in one of the scientometric databases guarantees a noticeable increase in citation.
Method 4. Scientific journal and publication: the right choice
The quality of the publication base plays an important role. It is necessary to pay attention to what indexability the journal has in databases, the frequency of mentions on the Internet, the circulation of the printed edition, as well as the absence of complaints, the increase of which leaks into the global network.
A journal with a solid reputation as a serious scientific publication and high ratings in the scientific community is usually included in domestic and international databases. It is recommended to pay attention to the composition of the editorial board that the journal has chosen for itself. Major scientists with famous names add "weight" to the publication, and this means increased interest in the published articles. After all, they simultaneously act as reviewers and have their own "Hirsch index".
A journal that positions itself as a repository for casual remote conferences or publishes everything sent for a fee cannot, by definition, ensure an increase in citation. Since its main way of achieving its goals is to increase the number of accepted articles, without caring about their quality. Such a journal does not organize any kind of organized selection, reviewing, or even proofreading of text pages as a method of work. And publication here will be of low quality.
Avoiding being misled means being careful about the venue where you intend to present your research.
Method 5. Additional options
Authors whose time is entirely devoted to science have no opportunity to find a method that guarantees an increase in the h-index and other indicators.
A working and absolutely legal method involves posting links to articles in exchange for similar citations. Which, within the framework of one direction or specialization, ensures an increase in the prevalence of knowledge in your field. Such mutual exchange, as a well-established method, reduces the time spent on searching for articles by other authors, which in any case must be referenced. Otherwise, your own research risks receiving the status of undeveloped in terms of theoretical basis and available relevant results. And no journal will publish such an article.
In the context of Covid restrictions, the remote format, as a method of work, has also begun to be used by scientific meetings. Some conferences are held remotely, but this does not necessarily negatively affect the Hirsch index and citation. The events do not lose their significance, since they remain included in the list of peer-reviewed publications of the Higher Attestation Commission. And they almost always publish their own journal. If a conference and journal are excluded from the list, this should be taken into account.
Participation in high-status correspondence conferences, publication of their results, does not bear reputational risks. And even simplifies the mechanism of presenting your product to the public. At the same time, there is no need to spend time and money on traveling and living in another region. This method is one of the most effective and accessible.
Today, authors of papers have the opportunity to free up their energy and time for pure science and not to track their own "Hirsch" and worry about citations. The index method is still considered a fundamental indicator for assessing the activities of scientists, especially beginners, who need this increase like air. The Academy company will help you use one or several of the presented methods.
In the required timeframes with the required result, references to publications will appear in thematic publications, which will immediately be reflected in the h-index. Achieving mathematically calculated parameters is always a matter of technique. By contacting the Academy company, it is possible to solve one of the problems - compliance with technical requirements, one of which is the h-index indicator, or the "big Hirsch" method. Although low citation in fact does not always mean a development that is of no use to anyone, the specifics of scientific creativity imply original results, and their assimilation by the scientific community takes time.
