English

Normalization at the field level: fractional counting of citations

Digital Libraries 2010-06-16 v1 Physics and Society

Abstract

Van Raan et al. (2010; arXiv:1003.2113) have proposed a new indicator (MNCS) for field normalization. Since field normalization is also used in the Leiden Rankings of universities, we elaborate our critique of journal normalization in Opthof & Leydesdorff (2010; arXiv:1002.2769) in this rejoinder concerning field normalization. Fractional citation counting thoroughly solves the issue of normalization for differences in citation behavior among fields. This indicator can also be used to obtain a normalized impact factor.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1006.2896,
  title  = {Normalization at the field level: fractional counting of citations},
  author = {Loet Leydesdorff and Tobias Opthof},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1006.2896},
  year   = {2010}
}