Distribution of the h-index in radiation oncology conforms to a variation of power law: implications for assessing academic productivity Journal Article

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Authors: Quigley, M. R.; Holliday, E. B.; Fuller, C. D.; Choi, M; Thomas, C. R., Jr
Article Title: Distribution of the h-index in radiation oncology conforms to a variation of power law: implications for assessing academic productivity
Abstract: Leaders of academic institutions evaluate academic productivity when deciding to hire, promote, or award resources. This study examined the distribution of the h-index, an assessment of academic standing, among radiation oncologists. The authors collected h-indices for 826 US academic radiation oncologists from a commercial bibliographic database (SCOPUS, Elsevier B.V., NL). Then, logarithmic transformation was performed on h-indices and ranked h-indices, and results were compared to estimates of a power law distribution. The h-index frequency distribution conformed to both the log-linear variation of a power law (r (2) = .99) and the beta distribution with the same fitting exponents as previously described in a power law analysis of the productivity of neurosurgeons. Within radiation oncology, as in neurosurgery, there are exceedingly more faculty with an h-index of 1-2. The distribution fitting the same variation of a power law within two fields suggests applicability to other areas of academia.
Journal Title: Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education
Volume: 27
Issue: 3
ISSN: 1543-0154; 0885-8195
Publisher: Unknown  
Journal Place: England
Date Published: 2012
Start Page: 463
End Page: 466
Language: eng
DOI/URL:

10.1007/s13187-012-0363-y
Notes: JID: 8610343; ppublish