Do authors play fair or manipulate Google Scholar h-index?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fayaz Ahmad Loan ◽  
Nahida Nasreen ◽  
Bisma Bashir
Keyword(s):  
Information Science ◽  
Google Scholar ◽  
Bibliometric Indicators ◽  
Academic Institutions ◽  
Simple Arithmetic ◽  
H Index ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Publication Count ◽  
Microsoft Office ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe study's main purpose is to scrutinize Google Scholar profiles and find the answer to the question, “Do authors play fair or manipulate Google Scholar Bibliometric Indicators like h-index and i10-index?”Design/methodology/approachThe authors scrutinized the Google Scholar profiles of the top 50 library and science researchers claiming authorship of 21,022 publications. The bibliographic information of all the 21,022 publications like authorship and subject details were verified to identify accuracy, discrepancies and manipulation in their authorship claims. The actual and fabricated entries of all the authors along with their citations were recorded in the Microsoft Office Excel 2007 for further analyses and interpretation using simple arithmetic calculations.FindingsThe results show that the h-index of authors obtained from the Google Scholar should not be approved at its face value as the variations exist in the publication count and citations, which ultimately affect their h-index and i10 index. The results reveal that the majority of the authors have variations in publication count (58%), citations (58%), h-index (42%) and i10-index (54%). The magnitude of variation in the number of publications, citations, h-index and i10-index is very high, especially for the top-ranked authors.Research limitations/implicationsThe scope of the study is strictly restricted to the faculty members of library and information science and cannot be generalized across disciplines. Further, the scope of the study is limited to Google Scholar and caution needs to be taken to extend results to other databases like Web of Science and Scopus.Practical implicationsThe study has practical implications for authors, publishers, and academic institutions. Authors must stop the unethical research practices; publishers must adopt techniques to overcome the problem and academic institutions need to take precautions before hiring, recruiting, promoting and allocating resources to the candidates on the face value of the Google Scholar h-index. Besides, Google needs to work on the weak areas of Google Scholar to improve its efficacy.Originality/valueThe study brings to light the new ways of manipulating bibliometric indicators like h-index, and i10-index provided by Google Scholar using false authorship claims.

Coverage of academic citation databases compared with coverage of scientific social media

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 255-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fee Hilbert ◽  
Julia Barth ◽  
Julia Gremm ◽  
Daniel Gros ◽  
Jessica Haiter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Web Of Science ◽  
Information Services ◽  
Google Scholar ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Calibration Parameter ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
Citation Databases ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show how the coverage of publications is represented in information services. Academic citation databases (Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar) and scientific social media (Mendeley, CiteULike, BibSonomy) were analyzed by applying a new method: the use of personal publication lists of scientists. Design/methodology/approach – Personal publication lists of scientists of the field of information science were analyzed. All data were taken in collaboration with the scientists in order to guarantee complete publication lists. Findings – The demonstrated calibration parameter shows the coverage of information services in the field of information science. None of the investigated databases reached a coverage of 100 percent. However Google Scholar covers a greater amount of publications than other academic citation databases and scientific social media. Research limitations/implications – Results were limited to the publications of scientists working at an information science department from 2003 to 2012 at German-speaking universities. Practical implications – Scientists of the field of information science are encouraged to review their publication strategy in case of quality and quantity. Originality/value – The paper confirms the usefulness of personal publication lists as a calibration parameter for measuring coverage of information services.

A secondary analysis of the library profession’s self-reported competence and comfort in working with patrons with disabilities

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
JJ Pionke
Keyword(s):  
Graduate School ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Assistive Technologies ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Current State ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
The Continuum

PurposeThis article presents a secondary analysis of previously published data in order to drive discussion of the library profession’s current state of preparedness in working with patrons with disabilities.Design/methodology/approachThis article used a secondary analysis of survey data that have been previously published to determine what the continuum of data said about the current state of preparedness in the profession when working with people with disabilities.FindingsA comparison of the data from both surveys reveals that there are not only gaps in library graduate school education related to disability and accessibility but also that those gaps are not being addressed through professional development and staff training after students enter the workforce.Research limitations/implicationsThis was a secondary analysis of data, so no new data could be added. There was also no representation from library graduate school administration.Practical implicationsAn awareness is built that there needs to be more instruction for library graduate students and library employees on topics related to disability, accessibility and assistive technologies.Originality/valueThe topic has never been studied before in this kind of continuum of data, and the use of the secondary analysis of data with the library and information science profession is exceedingly rare.

Leading with love and hospitality: applying a radical pedagogy to LIS

2019 ◽  
Vol 120 (1/2) ◽  
pp. 119-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole A. Cooke
Keyword(s):  
Classroom Management ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Ethnographic Case Study ◽  
Radical Pedagogy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Professionals ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to suggest that classroom instructors should reflect and revise their pedagogy to lead a classroom designed to produce future information professionals who will be prepared to serve their communities in a radical way. Design/methodology/approach The paper reviews the literature related to radical and humanizing pedagogies and then features an auto ethnographic case study which details how the author implemented some of the strategies. Findings Formal study of pedagogy can improve the library and information science (LIS) teaching and learning process. Practical implications Examining pedagogy in a formal way yields concrete suggestions for improving classroom management and content delivery. Social implications Using a radical pedagogy can improve relationships between teachers and learners, and learners will be able to model the classroom strategies in their own professional practice. Originality/value The study builds upon current examples of radical practice in the field and examines how such practices can be instilled even earlier in LIS graduate classrooms.

Is Google scholar really scholarly?

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 7-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fayaz Ahmad Loan ◽  
Shueb Sheikh
Keyword(s):  
Global Warming ◽  
Impact Factor ◽  
Economic Recession ◽  
Child Labour ◽  
Google Scholar ◽  
H Index ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Problems ◽  
Good Number

Purpose This paper aims to identify the scholarly nature of the results retrieved by the Google Scholar on the five major global problems, i.e. global warming, economic recession, terrorism, HIV AIDS and child labour. Design/methodology/approach The five terms (global warming, economic recession, terrorism, HIV AIDS and child labour) were searched into the Google Scholar database, and the first 50 retrieved hits were manually analysed to record the relevant bibliographic details. The scholarship of the results was measured by quality indices like h-index, Altmetrics and Journal Impact Factor. The Scopus – the world’s biggest abstract and citation database – was used to identify the h-index of the prolific authors, citations of articles and impact factor of journals. Findings The study reveals that Google Scholar retrieves a good number of publications on the selected global problems from reputed publishers such as Nature Publishing Group, Elsevier, Cambridge University Press, Blackwell and Sage and published from well-developed countries such as the USA, UK and Switzerland. Google Scholar mostly retrieves articles and research papers from qualitative journals having a good impact factor such as Nature, Science, The Lancet, American Journal of Public Health, The Economic Journal, Social Science and Medicine and Annals of Tourism Research. These articles and books are contributed by the reputed authors having high h-index. The journal articles and books retrieved have also a good number of citations, although such results are limited. The results prove that Google Scholar is scholarly in nature to a great extent. Research limitations/implications The findings are limited to Google Scholar only and cannot be generalized for the rest of the search tools or databases. Further, the study included only five major global problems in the study, and thus, results cannot be applicable to other areas of knowledge. Practical implications The study is a checklist to know the retrieval performance of Google Scholar in terms of quality of content. Originality/value It is the first study of its kind that takes into account the nature of content on major global problems retrieved by the Google Scholar. It is also the first study that used bibliometric analysis to evaluate the quality of results retrieved.

Seven information practices for alleviating information vulnerability

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Devendra Dilip Potnis ◽  
Joseph Winberry
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Information Access ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information Practices ◽  
Information Professionals ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Real World Problems

PurposeThis literature review aims to identify conscious, intentional, repetitive and transferrable information-related decisions and activities (i.e. information practices) for individuals to alleviate their information vulnerability. Information vulnerability refers to the lack of access to accurate, affordable, complete, relevant and timely information or the inability to use such information, which can place individuals, communities or society at disadvantage or hurt them.Design/methodology/approachConceptual literature review.FindingsThis review presents seven conscious, intentional, repetitive and transferrable information practices to alleviate information vulnerability.Practical implicationsDue to the transferability potential of the seven information practices, diverse populations in varied contexts could refer to, adapt and benefit from appropriate combinations of information practices and their manifestations. The framework can be used by individuals for alleviating information vulnerability. Thus, this paper responds to the call for conducting action-driven research in information science for addressing real-world problems. Information professionals can help individuals select and implement appropriate combinations of seven information practices for alleviating information vulnerability.Originality/valueWe propose (1) a parsimonious, episodic framework for alleviating information vulnerability, which depicts the inter-relationship among the seven information practices and (2) a three-dimensional plot with information access, use and value as three axes to map the manifestation and outcome of alleviating information vulnerability.

What is the relationship between marketing of library sources and services and social media? A literature review paper

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Muhammad Anwar ◽  
Tang Zhiwei
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Related Literature ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Massive Information ◽  
Library Marketing ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between social media and libraries in terms of marketing. The present research is to find out the factors and impact as well as the issues related to libraries and marketing using social media. This study will give massive information regarding social media use for the marketing of library sources and services. Design/methodology/approach This study so far has been taken into account to review all the related literature of social media and library marketing. All the related literature studies were reviewed according to the suggested objectives of the study. Findings The present study reveals after reviewing literature that there is a great impact of social media on libraries. The literature shows that social media is the biggest change in the twenty-firstst century for library professionals and librarians. The reviewed literature studies have discovered that the libraries are facing too many challenges and issues to the adoption of social media for the marketing of library sources and services. The collected and analyzed works of the literature indicated that social media would be the best tool to promote library sources and services. Research limitations/implications This research or study can serve the LIS professionals and librarians in the field of library and information science and librarianships that they are looking for the adoption and application of social media in the marketing of library sources and services to the targeted customers. Practical implications This research or study can serve the LIS professionals and Librarians in the field of library and information science and librarianships that they are looking for the adoption and application of social media in the marketing of library sources and services to the targeted customers. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first among those researches that is to disclose the close relationship between social media and libraries in terms of marketing of library sources and services.

Information activities as serious leisure within the fanfiction community

2017 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 843-857 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Hill ◽  
Jen J.L. Pecoskie
Keyword(s):  
Peer Review ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Library And Information Science ◽  
Serious Leisure ◽  
Significant Information ◽  
Cultural Products ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital Heritage ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Fanfiction communities are actively engaged in creating cultural products. These large online communities have created and developed conventions that guide their solutions to gathering and presenting their work. The purpose of this paper is to investigate those conventions looking for evidence of information-related pursuits as serious leisure (SL) (Stebbins, 2007). Design/methodology/approach A diverse collection of fanfiction publishing platforms, blogs, and associated websites were subject to a qualitative inductive analysis (Lincoln and Guba, 1985). Platforms included both generalist sites like Archive of Our Own and more focused sites such as Teen Wolf Fic Finder. Findings Findings show significant information-related activities around collecting, wayfinding, and organizing. Collecting centers on platform policies focused on scope. Wayfinding relates to peer review as well as various reference-like work including reader’s advisory, reference questioning, and the creation of pathfinders. Organizing looks to the unique organizational schema created and used by the fanfiction communities. Research limitations/implications The authors explore implications of these activities in reference to the fanfiction community and the library and information science (LIS) discipline. The fanfiction community is shifting out of an ephemeral existence and into one of a more permanent digital heritage. Fanfiction is an SL pursuit that also has much to offer for consideration to the LIS discipline. Practical implications With respect to the wayfinding and organizing conventions of fanfiction communities, these activities provide librarianship with the opportunity to consider traditional activities in new ways. Originality/value Fanfiction is a little studied phenomenon in SL and in LIS. This research provides connections to both areas.

Toward an inclusive understanding of technology intelligence: a literature review

foresight ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 240-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mostafa Safdari Ranjbar ◽  
Gholam Reza Tavakoli
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Google Scholar ◽  
Technological Changes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Technology Intelligence ◽  
Planning Processes ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to promote the authors' understanding of technology intelligence by responding to two questions: What is technology intelligence? How is it accomplished? Design/methodology/approach – To respond to the two main questions about technology intelligence in this paper, the authors have studied relevant academic, peer-reviewed journals and books using the literature databases of Google Scholar, Sciencedirect, Inderscience, Wiley and Emerald Insight. They have used few selection criteria to choose papers and books for inclusion in their study. Findings – Enhancing the authors' understanding of the technology intelligence concept by responding to the two main questions (What is technology intelligence? How is it accomplished?), classifying the main studies in the field of technology intelligence and several practical and theoretical implications are the findings in this paper. Practical implications – A number of practical implications related to technology intelligence structure, process, methods, tools and players are suggested to managers of organizations and companies to improve their technology-related planning processes and decision-making. Originality/value – Despite the considerable level of consensus on the necessity of precise scanning and monitoring technological changes and trends, there is still limited understanding of the technology intelligence concept. This paper intends to enhance the authors' understanding of technology intelligence by responding to two questions: What is technology intelligence? And how is it accomplished?

scholarly journals Use Of Altmetric And Bibliometric Indicators To Measure Scientific Productivity In The Fields Of Life And Earth Sciences: Case Study From Haiti

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (21) ◽  
pp. 316
Author(s):  
Jasmine Césars ◽  
Magline Alexis ◽  
Evens Emmanuel
Keyword(s):  
Rank Correlation ◽  
Scientific Productivity ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Google Scholar ◽  
Bibliometric Indicators ◽  
H Index ◽  
Environment And Health ◽  
Normality Test ◽  
Kolmogorov Smirnov ◽  
Number Of Citations

The objective of this study was to carry out, based on certain bibliometric and altimetric indicators, a summary assessment of the scientific productivity of Quisqueya University’s researchers in 3 specific fields: agronomy, the environment and health. An experimental framework was designed and implemented based on the quantitative information available on the academic social network ResearchGate, and on SCOPUS and Google scholar, out of a total of 12,731 citations enumerated for Quisqueya University as of December 31, 2020, 19% were for the environment, 19.3% were for health, 59.9% for agronomy and 1.8% for other sectors. All the sectors recorded a significant increase for the RG score altmetric indicator and for the two bibliometric indicators: number of citations and H-index. The data collected were analyzed using XLSTAT and R software. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test was applied for each of the indicators. Pearson's rank correlation was used to calculate the correlations between the altmetric indicator (RG-Score) from ResearchGate and the bibliometric indicators (citation and H-index) from Google Scholar and Scopus. A significant positive correlation of α = 0.918 was observed between the number of citations on ResearchGate and on Google Scholar. a result in the same direction (α = 0.991) is also observed between the number of citations on ResearchGate and on Scopus. These correlations allow us to conclude that the work of these researchers was cited in publications published in journals referenced in the Web of Science by a rate exceeding 90%.

Design thinking as a dynamic methodology for information science

2018 ◽  
Vol 119 (12) ◽  
pp. 743-757
Author(s):  
Natalia Nakano ◽  
Joao Augusto Dias Barreira e Oliveira ◽  
Maria José Vicentini Jorente
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Design Thinking ◽  
Information Science ◽  
Science Research ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Considerable Potential ◽  
Science Community ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to present an overview of the design thinking (DT) methodology applied to information science research focusing on the user journey. DT stages are essential to understand, create and implement solutions based on the identified problems. Design/methodology/approach The paper applies bibliographic, theoretical and exploratory research based on the literature from DT methodology and information science. Findings The area of information science has not fully incorporated DT methodology on its practices, and DT presents considerable potential to support user experience. Practical implications Raise awareness of the information science community regarding the DT methodology as an alternative to apply to various types of research. Originality/value DT brings a unique contribution to engage people toward innovation in information centers; the paper is original, as it provides insights on the application of DT to improve the user journey related to information.

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