A scientist’s position within this ranking is determined using their D-index (Discipline H-index). Unlike the traditional H-index, the D-index is discipline-specific—it accounts exclusively for publications and citations within the examined field, thus providing a more targeted reflection of a researcher’s impact in Social Sciences and Humanities.
Scope of Research and Ranking Criteria
The ranking methodology commenced with the examination of 279,971 scientist profiles identified from an extensive cross-section of bibliometric data sources across a full spectrum of disciplines. Within this broad dataset, 9,000 scientists specializing in Social Sciences and Humanities were specifically analyzed.
To qualify for inclusion in the ranking, a scientist must have a D-index of at least 30, reflecting a substantial and focused scholarly contribution within the relevant discipline. Additionally, the majority of an individual’s tier publications are required to pertain to Social Sciences and Humanities. Complementing bibliometric thresholds, evaluators also considered recognized awards and achievements within the discipline.
The threshold for the D-index is dynamically set in increments of 10 based upon the estimated total number of scholars per discipline. This approach ensures inclusion of the top 1% of leading experts, maintaining both rigor and fairness. A further quality control measure restricts the acceptable difference between a scientist’s general H-index and D-index to no more than 30%, ensuring strong alignment between overall and discipline-specific impact metrics.
Verification Procedures and Methodological Rigor
The Research.com team acknowledges that raw bibliometric data alone should never be considered an absolute or sole measure of scholarly performance. Accordingly, each scientist profile was subjected to meticulous manual verification and cross-correlation against publications from a wide array of trustworthy and authoritative sources.
Although not a direct factor in determining ranking position, the number of papers published in prominent journals and conference proceedings was also assessed as an important secondary indicator of a researcher’s contribution and visibility within the Social Sciences and Humanities domain.
The final ranking position for each scientist is established by applying the D-index based on information derived primarily from OpenAlex and CrossRef, recognized as the most prominent and reliable bibliometric repositories accessible to the global research community. For a comprehensive overview of the methodology employed in this ranking, please visit our methodology page.
Research.com’s Mission and Vision Behind the Ranking
The overarching mission of Research.com in creating this ranking is to motivate researchers, institutions, companies, and policymakers worldwide to gain insight into where leading experts are focusing their efforts. By providing an authoritative and transparent ranking of top scientists, we aim to facilitate discovery and collaboration within the academic community.
Our goal is to enable the entire scientific ecosystem—spanning countries, study areas, and research institutions—to identify and connect with leading experts, thereby fostering innovation, informed decision-making, and progress across social sciences and humanities research landscapes.
