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Diffusion of scientific credits and the ranking of scientists

Filippo Radicchi, Santo Fortunato, Benjamin Markines, and Alessandro Vespignani
Phys. Rev. E 80, 056103 – Published 11 November 2009
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Abstract

Recently, the abundance of digital data is enabling the implementation of graph-based ranking algorithms that provide system level analysis for ranking publications and authors. Here, we take advantage of the entire Physical Review publication archive (1893–2006) to construct authors’ networks where weighted edges, as measured from opportunely normalized citation counts, define a proxy for the mechanism of scientific credit transfer. On this network, we define a ranking method based on a diffusion algorithm that mimics the spreading of scientific credits on the network. We compare the results obtained with our algorithm with those obtained by local measures such as the citation count and provide a statistical analysis of the assignment of major career awards in the area of physics. A website where the algorithm is made available to perform customized rank analysis can be found at the address http://www.physauthorsrank.org.

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  • Received 6 July 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.80.056103

©2009 American Physical Society

Synopsis

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Ranking scientists

Published 11 November 2009

An analysis of the citation network leads to an alternative way to quantitatively assess the impact of a scientist’s work.

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Authors & Affiliations

Filippo Radicchi1, Santo Fortunato1, Benjamin Markines2, and Alessandro Vespignani2,1

  • 1Complex Networks and Systems, Institute for Scientific Interchange (ISI), Torino, Italy
  • 2Center for Complex Networks and Systems Research (CNetS), School of Informatics and Computing, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, 47408 USA

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Issue

Vol. 80, Iss. 5 — November 2009

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