The value of the Hirsch index depends on the database in which it is calculated. Before using the result, it is useful to understand what data it is based on.
Checking the Hirsch index in Scopus
Scopus calculates the Hirsch index from the documents and citations indexed in this database. The value can be found as follows:
- Open Scopus and go to the author search (Authors).
- Enter the surname, first name and organisation, or an ORCID identifier.
- Select the appropriate profile from the list of results.
- Open the author profile and click View h-graph.
As described in the Scopus support centre, on the graph page it is possible to change the period and to exclude self-citations and citations from books.
If documents or citations are missing from a profile, or one author’s publications are split across several profiles, the value may differ from the actual one. In such cases, a correction can be requested: profiles can be merged (Request to merge authors) or missing documents can be added.
How to find the Hirsch index in Web of Science?
In Web of Science, the Hirsch index is displayed in the Citation Report. To create it, find the author’s publications by searching documents using the Author field and click Citation Report above the list of results.
If a search by surname returns works by namesakes, they can be removed from the report manually. In addition, the value is shown in the metrics of the Web of Science Researcher profile, where it is calculated from the Web of Science Core Collection publications added to the profile, including self-citations.
According to the Web of Science Help Center, the value in the report depends on the depth of the organisation’s subscription and the selected period. Therefore, users with different access may obtain different results.
Checking the Hirsch index in Google Scholar
Google Scholar shows the Hirsch index in the author profile, which is created by the scientist personally. To do this, sign in to a Google account, select My profile and add your publications from the suggested list.
The profile displays the number of citations, the Hirsch index and the i10-index for all time (All) and for the last five years (Since). The values are updated automatically as Google Scholar is updated.
The system may add works by namesakes to a profile, so it is worth checking the list and removing anything that does not belong. It is recommended to merge duplicate entries (Merge) so that they are counted as one publication.
According to the Google Scholar requirements, for a profile to appear in search results, it must be public and have a verified email address at an organisation; addresses such as gmail.com are not suitable for this purpose.
Why does the Hirsch index differ between Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar?
Each system takes into account its own set of sources, so the values often do not match. In Google Scholar, the indicator is, as a rule, higher because its coverage of materials is wider than in Scopus and Web of Science.
The following factors affect the discrepancy in results:
- coverage of journals, books and conference proceedings
- the period for which publications and citations are counted
- accuracy of the link between works and the author profile
- settings for counting self-citations
- date of the last data update
Verifying the Hirsch index in Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar
When stating the Hirsch index in an application or report, it is advisable to record the name of the database and the date of the check. If an organisation’s requirements do not specify the source, it is worth finding out in advance which database is accepted.
For verification, it is useful to compare the publication lists in the profiles: missing works or entries belonging to someone else affect the final value. In addition, the index does not reflect differences between scientific fields or the stage of a scientific career, so comparing the values of different scientists should be done with caution.
Checking the Hirsch index in Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar involves finding the author profile, verifying the publication list and recording the value with an indication of the source. Regular review of profiles may help identify inaccuracies in the data in good time and correct them.
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