The National H-index Ranking (NHR) is an independent international ranking system that evaluates the scientific productivity of researchers, research groups and organisations on the basis of a consolidated h-index. A position in the ranking is shaped by a number of parameters: publication activity in Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar, the level of citation, the accuracy of the author profile, and the quality of the journals chosen. An understanding of these factors helps to build a considered publication strategy and to direct efforts where they will be most productive.
How is a position in the NHR ranking formed?
The NHR is built on a consolidated h-index, calculated from three scientometric sources: Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar. The h-index value from Google Scholar is divided by two – an adjustment introduced by the ranking's compilers to offset possible duplicates and the less rigorous selection of data in the open database. As a result, the final position reflects both the number of publications and their citation rate, which brings the assessment closer to an author's actual scientific influence rather than to formal activity statistics. The ranking is updated once a year – in May and November – which sets a natural rhythm for work on improving one's indicators.
The impact of publication activity on the h-index
Publications remain one of the main drivers of h-index growth, since it is citations that shape the final figure. What matters for the dynamics is not the number of articles as such, but their relevance within the professional community. Factors that increase the likelihood of being cited include:
- the topicality of the subject matter and the scientific novelty of the results
- methodological soundness of the research and transparency of the data
- publication in journals indexed in Scopus and Web of Science
- the availability of open access (Open Access) to the full text
- well-prepared abstracts, keywords and metadata
Works published in upper-quartile journals (Q1, Q2) generally attract broader attention from the international community, which tends to translate into more dynamic growth of the index.
What role does the author profile setup play?
The accuracy of the author profile has a direct bearing on how fully publications are counted when the ranking is compiled. If articles are linked to different spellings of the surname, to scattered affiliations or to several unmerged identifiers, some citations may go unrecorded, which leads to an understatement of the actual figures. Elements that require attention include:
- A single ORCID identifier linked to all publications.
- A consolidated Scopus Author ID profile with duplicates removed.
- A correctly completed Web of Science ResearcherID profile.
- Consistent indication of affiliation – the same institution name across all articles.
- Regular updating of the publication list in Google Scholar.
Systematic work on profiles helps to avoid undercounting of citations and ensures that an author's actual contribution is reflected accurately in the NHR.
Citation rate and visibility of scholarly publications
Beyond the mere fact of publication, a work's visibility within the scientific community is of considerable importance. Reach can be extended by depositing articles in institutional repositories and academic networks (ResearchGate, Academia.edu), as well as by taking part in international conferences and research collaborations. Particular attention should be given to the choice of topic: studies that address current questions in global science tend to attract more citations and build up the h-index more quickly. Excessive or unjustified self-citation, by contrast, may negatively affect the perception of the work and is taken into account only to a limited extent in some scientometric systems.
What actions slow down progress in the NHR?
Factors that hold back a rise in position include publication in journals with low visibility, the absence of indexing in major databases, fragmented author profiles, irregular publication activity, and cooperation with journals of questionable reputation – so-called "predatory" journals. Such publications, as a rule, do not raise the h-index and may have a negative effect on the academic reputation of both the author and their institution.
A position in the NHR ranking is the result of comprehensive work – publication activity in authoritative databases, accurate maintenance of author profiles, a considered choice of journals, and the systematic promotion of research findings. An understanding of the ranking's methodology, together with consistent work in each of these areas, creates the conditions for steady growth in indicators and, with that, for a more prominent presence in the international scholarly community.
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