What is a good i10-index?

The i10-index, also known as the i-index or I-ten index, is a measure of the scientific impact or productivity of an individual researcher in the field of academia. It is named after the first 10 articles that have received at least 10 citations each. It was introduced by physicist Jorge E. Hirsch in 2005 as an alternative to the h-index, which only takes into account the total number of citations a researcher has received.

The i10-index is particularly useful for evaluating the impact of early-career researchers or those working in highly specialized fields where citation counts may not be as high. It provides a more focused measure of impact by only considering highly cited articles.

To calculate the i10-index, one needs to count the number of publications that have received at least 10 citations. For example, an i10-index of 20 means that the researcher has published 20 articles that have been cited at least 10 times each.

The i10-index is frequently used in conjunction with other bibliometric measures, such as the h-index and the total citation count, to provide a comprehensive assessment of a researcher's impact. It provides a valuable insight into both the quality and quantity of a researcher's work.

However, it is important to note that the i10-index, like any bibliometric measure, has its limitations. It can be influenced by the specific research field, the research community, or the citation practices prevalent in a particular area. It is always recommended to use multiple metrics to evaluate the impact and productivity of a researcher comprehensively.

In summary, the i10-index is a valuable tool for assessing the impact of researchers, particularly in early stages of their careers or in specialized fields. It provides a more focused measure of impact by considering highly cited articles, offering a complementary perspective to other bibliometric indices.