A scientist’s position within the ranking is determined based on their D-index (Discipline H-index), a refined bibliometric indicator that measures the impact of a researcher’s work specifically within the examined discipline. This metric takes into account only those papers and their associated citation counts that fall within the Social Sciences and Humanities, thus providing a focused assessment of scholarly influence in the relevant field.
Scope of Research and Qualification Criteria
The ranking process involved an extensive examination of 279,971 scientist profiles identified from a variety of bibliometric data sources across all academic disciplines. From this wide pool, a select group of 3,983 scientists specializing in Social Sciences and Humanities were specifically analyzed. To qualify for inclusion in the ranking, a scientist must have achieved a minimum D-index of 30, ensuring that only researchers with significant disciplinary impact were considered.
Additionally, more than half of a qualifying scientist’s tier publications had to be clearly situated within Social Sciences and Humanities to ensure subject-matter relevance. Awards and notable achievements within the field were also factored into the verification process, offering a complementary perspective on academic standing and contribution.
The threshold D-index for considering top researchers is calibrated in increments of 10 relative to the estimated total population of scholars in each discipline. This approach guarantees inclusion of the top 1% of leading scholars, balancing rigor with comprehensive representation. Furthermore, to maintain focus on disciplinary expertise, only scientists whose general H-index and D-index differ by 30% or less are featured, underscoring alignment between overall impact and discipline-specific influence.
Verification Practices and Methodological Rigor
Recognizing that raw bibliometric data alone cannot comprehensively evaluate the scholarly impact of researchers, the Research.com team undertook meticulous manual verification of all scientist profiles. This process involved cross-referencing publications and records across a broad spectrum of trustworthy sources to ensure accuracy, legitimacy, and relevance.
While the number of publications in prominent journals and conference proceedings is not a direct factor in determining a researcher’s ranking position, such data represent a valuable secondary signal of their contribution to the field. The central ranking metric remains the D-index, calculated from data exclusively gathered through OpenAlex and CrossRef—the most prominent and reliable bibliometric databases accessible to the global research community.
To learn more about the comprehensive methodology employed, readers are encouraged to visit our methodology page.
Research.com’s Mission and Vision
At Research.com, our mission is to motivate researchers, companies, and policymakers worldwide to explore and understand where leading scientific expertise is advancing. This ranking serves as a transparent and authoritative resource enabling the global scientific community to identify and connect with top experts in specific areas of study, whether by country, institution, or specialty.
Through this initiative, we aim to foster collaboration, inspire excellence, and support evidence-based decision-making in academia and beyond. The careful, methodical, and data-driven approach underlying this ranking underscores our commitment to providing trustworthy and actionable insights into the landscape of Social Sciences and Humanities research in Malaysia.
