Abstract
Background:
Citation-based indexes may objectively measure scholarly production, and previous studies have shown these to be superior predictors of scientific achievement and academic rank than more traditional measures. However, absolute values of these indexes are discipline specific. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to define normative values of the h-index and m-quotient for academic pediatric pulmonologists.
Methods:
A sample of 85 pediatric pulmonologists were examined from 10 large academic children's hospitals, chosen from the top 50 U.S. News rankings of children's hospitals in pulmonary departments. H-index and m-quotient were tabulated using Web of Science.
Results:
Both h-index and m-quotient were significantly associated with academic rank (p<0.001). Median and interquartile ranges were as follows: assistant professor (h-index 1 [1–4], m-quotient 0.25 [0.04–0.50]), associate professor (h-index 10 [4–12], m-quotient 0.57 [0.38–0.66]), and full professor (h-index 23 [12–33], m-quotient 0.88 [0.47–1.07]). U.S. News ranking correlated with both h-index (ρ=−0.21, p=0.04) and m-quotient (ρ=−0.24, p=0.02), with better rank associated with increased scholarly productivity. Female faculty had lower h-indexes (p=0.002) but not significantly lower m-quotients (p=0.09), suggesting the sex difference was largely due to academic age.
Conclusions:
These data may serve as objective benchmarks of scholarly productivity for academic pediatric pulmonologists. Within this specialty, h-index levels of 4 and 12 identify cutoff points between assistant/associate and associate/full professors, respectively.
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