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A rank-frequency model for scientific productivity

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Abstract

If f(r) is the number of contributions of an author or rank r, then it is shown that f(r) is proportional to r−β, where β>0. The model is dependent on the definitions of “a contribution” and “rank” of an author. Three estimation procedures are illustrated and four other scientific productivity studies and two data sets on Canadian Mathematicians are shown to adequately fit this rank-frequency relationship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Guelph, N1H 2W1, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

    J. J. Hubert

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  1. J. J. Hubert
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Additional information

Research partially supported by National Research Council Grant No. A9229.

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Hubert, J.J. A rank-frequency model for scientific productivity. Scientometrics 3, 191–202 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02101665

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02101665

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