A scientist’s position in the ranking is determined by their D-index (Discipline H-index), a specialized metric which accounts exclusively for papers and citations within the examined discipline—Political Science in this case. This approach ensures that the evaluation reflects a researcher’s specific impact and influence within their field rather than their overall scholarly output.
Scope of Research and Selection Criteria
The ranking methodology began with the examination of 279,971 scientist profiles, identified from a variety of bibliometric data sources spanning all disciplines. From this comprehensive dataset, 1,478 scientists specializing in Political Science were isolated for detailed evaluation.
To qualify for inclusion in the ranking, researchers had to meet a minimum D-index threshold of 20. Additionally, a majority of each scientist’s tier publications had to be clearly situated within the Political Science domain. Beyond bibliometric indicators, scientists’ awards and notable achievements within Political Science were also factored into the overall assessment.
The D-index threshold is dynamically calibrated, set as an increment of 10 according to the estimated total number of scholars for each discipline. This calibration ensures that the top 1% of leading scholars are consistently incorporated in the ranking. Furthermore, to guarantee disciplinary focus, only candidates whose general H-index and D-index differ by no more than 30% are considered.
Additional Verification Practices
The Research.com team acknowledges that raw bibliometric data alone cannot serve as an absolute measure of a scholar’s contributions. To uphold the highest standards of accuracy and credibility, all scientist profiles included in the ranking were manually verified and cross-correlated against publications listed in a wide range of trusted scholarly sources.
While not directly influencing the ranking position, the number of papers published in prominent journals and conference proceedings is regarded as a valuable secondary signal of a scientist’s substantive contribution to Political Science research.
The D-index is calculated exclusively from data acquired through OpenAlex and CrossRef, the foremost bibliometric databases recognized in the academic community worldwide.
For detailed insight into the methodology employed in creating the ranking, please consult our methodology page.
Research.com’s Mission and Vision
Research.com is committed to motivating researchers, companies, and policymakers globally to explore the trajectories of leading scientific experts. Our mission is to provide the entire scientific community with transparent, data-driven insights into who the foremost scholars are in specific areas of study, within various countries, and among research institutions.
By creating rigorous and meticulously crafted rankings, we aim to foster recognition, collaboration, and informed decision-making that advances scientific progress worldwide.
