Author citation metrics in paleontology: the h-index and the c-score

Valentí Rull

The “Stanford ranking” (SR) of standardized citation indicators calculates an individual scientist’s composite c-score, addressing limitations of the h-index. Updated annually, the SR lists the top 100,000 scientists and the top 2% in each specialty. This study examines all (500) palaeontologists included in the SR (SR-palaeontologists), comparing their h-index, c-score and related productivity and citation variables. Analyses cover geographical distribution, statistical characterization and relationships among variables. SR-palaeontologists are concentrated mainly in North America and central-northern Europe. An average SR-palaeontologist has a 41-year career and 165 publications: 51 as first or single author (author), 69 as intermediate author (collaborator) and 45 as last author (manager). This imaginary scientist has received about 9,400 citations (17% self-citations): 2734 as author, 4720 as collaborator, and 1948 as manager. The average h-index is 47, and the mean c-score is 3.65. These metrics show weak correlation and little dependence on career length. Rankings differ markedly depending on whether the h-index or c-score is applied. Palaeontologists with high h-indices (h-palaeontologists) typically have more papers and citations, especially as collaborators or managers, and higher self-citation rates. In contrast, those with high c-scores (c-palaeontologists) generally produce fewer papers and citations overall, show lower self-citation rates and obtain a larger share of citations from work as authors rather than collaborators or managers. Expanding the database to include the broader palaeontological community would enable a more comprehensive assessment of citation performance and better inform evaluation practices. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first global, discipline-wide analysis conducted using the SR.