A scientist’s position in the ranking is determined by their D-index (Discipline H-index), a refined bibliometric metric which exclusively considers papers and citation metrics relevant to the examined discipline—in this case, Political Science. This approach ensures that the ranking accurately reflects a researcher’s impact within their specific field, rather than general citation counts.
Scope of Research and Ranking Criteria
To establish a well-rounded and representative assessment, 279,971 scientist profiles identified from a diverse range of bibliometric databases were examined across all disciplines, with a focused analysis on 13 scientists specializing in Political Science in France.
In order to qualify for inclusion in the ranking, a scientist must have a D-index of at least 20, and the majority of their tier publications must be in the area of Political Science, underscoring a sustained focus in the discipline. Moreover, individual scientists’ awards and achievements within Political Science were also considered as part of the evaluative framework.
The D-index threshold is calibrated as an increment of 10 based on the estimated total number of scholars in each discipline, ensuring that the ranking incorporates the top 1% of leading experts. Additionally, to maintain relevance and consistency, a strict proximity criterion requires that the difference between a scientist’s general H-index and their D-index is 30% or less.
Verification Practices and Data Integrity
We acknowledge that bibliometric data alone can never serve as an absolute measure of a scholar’s output and impact. Consequently, all scientist profiles included in this ranking were manually verified by experts. This verification involved cross-correlating publication records against a wide range of trustworthy, independent sources to validate accuracy.
Although the number of papers published in prominent journals and conference proceedings does not directly influence a researcher’s position in the Research.com ranking, it serves as an important secondary signal highlighting a scientist’s substantive contributions to their field.
The position in the ranking is formally established using each researcher’s D-index based on data aggregated from OpenAlex and CrossRef, which remain the most prominent and widely recognized bibliometric databases available to the global research community.
For a comprehensive overview of the methodology, we encourage readers to consult our methodology page.
Research.com’s Mission
At Research.com, our mission is to motivate researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers worldwide to understand the directions and contributions of leading experts globally. By providing transparent, credible rankings, we offer the broader scientific community a trusted resource to identify and connect with top scholars in specific areas of study, across countries and within research institutions.
This ranking embodies the careful and meticulous efforts invested in crafting an objective, discipline-focused recognition of excellence, fostering greater visibility and collaboration within the Political Science research community and beyond.
