A mathematical analysis of the h-index and study of its correlation with some improved metrics: A conceptual approach

Abstract

This article aims to establish the h-index in different mathematical aspects and measure the correlation of the h-index with other metrics using the bibliographic data of selected journals in the Library and Information Science (LIS) domain. Using the concept of relation and function, the h-index is expressed. Data collected from authors in three major LIS journals, including h-index, g-index, m-index, total citations and total publications, are analysed using correlation and regression analyses. The findings indicate a high level of relationship between h-index and g-index scores and m-index at starting year of publication. Conversely, a lower level of relationship between the h-index, g-index, starting year of publication, the total number of publications and the number of citations. This is an original study and will be of interest to the researchers of LIS who wants to know this performance indicator in different aspects, the dependency/independency of the h-index with other metrics, and the impact/performance of the three journals over time in terms of h-index, m-index, total citations and the number of publications. The study is limited to analysis of performance-and-citation-related measurements h-index, g-index, m-index, total citations, and the number of publications.