The Normalization of Citation Counts Based on Classification Systems

Lutz Bornmann (), Werner Marx and Andreas Barth
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Werner Marx: Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Heisenbergstrasse 1, Stuttgart D-70569, Germany
Andreas Barth: FIZ Karlsruhe, Hermann-von-Helmholtz-Platz 1, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen D-76344, Germany

Publications, 2013, vol. 1, issue 2, 1-9

Abstract: If we want to assess whether the paper in question has had a particularly high or low citation impact compared to other papers, the standard practice in bibliometrics is to normalize citations in respect of the subject category and publication year. A number of proposals for an improved procedure in the normalization of citation impact have been put forward in recent years. Against the background of these proposals, this study describes an ideal solution for the normalization of citation impact: in a first step, the reference set for the publication in question is collated by means of a classification scheme, where every publication is associated with a single principal research field or subfield entry (e.g., via Chemical Abstracts sections) and a publication year. In a second step, percentiles of citation counts are calculated for this set and used to assign the normalized citation impact score to the publications (and also to the publication in question).

Keywords: bibliometrics; normalized citation indicators; percentiles (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A2 D83 L82 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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