The bibliometric data underpinning the citation-based metrics used for this ranking were collected on January 12, 2026. A scientist’s position in the ranking is determined by the D-index (Discipline H-index), a specialized metric that only considers papers and citation counts within the specific examined discipline, thereby reflecting scholarly impact within Social Sciences and Humanities with precision.
Scope of Research and Ranking Criteria
The ranking is grounded on a thorough examination of 279,971 scientist profiles identified from diverse bibliometric data sources, encompassing all academic disciplines. Among these, 3,000 scientists from Social Sciences and Humanities were specifically analyzed for inclusion.
To qualify for this ranking, a scientist must have a D-index of at least 30, with the majority of their tier publications concentrated in the Social Sciences and Humanities domain. Additionally, a candidate's awards and achievements within this field were carefully considered as supplementary evaluative factors.
The threshold for the D-index is dynamically set as increments of 10 based on the estimated total number of scholars in each discipline, ensuring inclusion of the top 1% of leading researchers. Furthermore, to guarantee disciplinary focus, a scientist’s general H-index must not deviate from their D-index by more than 30%.
Additional Verification Practices
At Research.com, we recognize that raw bibliometric data alone cannot offer an absolute assessment of scholarly output. Consequently, every scientist profile was manually verified and cross-correlated against publications indexed in a wide array of trusted and authoritative sources to guarantee accuracy and authenticity.
Though not directly influencing the calculation of a researcher’s rank, the number of publications in prominent journals and esteemed conference proceedings serves as a valuable secondary signal of a scientist’s contribution within their discipline.
Positions in the ranking are established exclusively on the basis of each scientist’s D-index as determined by data from OpenAlex and CrossRef, two of the most prominent and reliable bibliometric databases accessible to the global research community.
For a comprehensive understanding of the methodology applied to develop this ranking, we encourage readers to consult our methodology page.
Research.com’s Mission and Agenda
Our mission at Research.com is to inspire researchers, companies, policymakers, and academic institutions worldwide to closely examine the trajectories of leading experts. By providing transparent and rigorously curated rankings, we empower the global scientific community with clear insights into who the foremost authorities are within specific fields of study, across countries, and within various research institutions.
This initiative seeks not only to recognize excellence but also to facilitate collaboration, innovation, and evidence-based decision-making throughout the academic and scientific ecosystem.
