In search of a scientific elite: highly cited researchers (HCR) in France

Lauranne Chaignon (), Domingo Docampo and Daniel Egret
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Lauranne Chaignon: Université PSL
Domingo Docampo: Universidade de Vigo
Daniel Egret: Université PSL

Scientometrics, 2023, vol. 128, issue 10, No 19, 5827 pages

Abstract: Abstract A high level of citations is generally associated with the exceptional influence of an article. Authors of several highly cited articles are thus considered and scrutinized as influential members within their scientific discipline and beyond when their activity spans several disciplines. Identifying individuals who have made outstanding contributions to science is the motivation behind the Highly Cited Researchers (HCR) list published annually by a commercial company. This article is devoted to the case of highly cited researchers affiliated with French institutions. We study the characteristics of the HCR population: productivity, gender bias, career and persistence on the list, collaboration network, and scientific integrity. Then, from the annual lists of HCRs from 2014 to 2022, we examine what the number of HCRs tells us about France's place in the world scientific arena, its evolution over a decade, and its geographical and institutional distribution. We discuss whether the population of French HCRs constitutes a scientific elite by examining the case of Mathematics. Finally, we discuss several indicators which could be used to verify that a researcher is close to the threshold to enter the list.

Keywords: Highly cited researcher; Citation analysis; Bibliometric indicator; Research evaluation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1007/s11192-023-04805-3

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