Selection Criteria and Methodology of Top 2% Scientists List

Stanford’s Top 2% Scientists List

Stanford’s Top 2% Scientists List is an esteemed ranking that identifies the most cited scholars in their fields. This ranking, derived from Scopus database data, highlights researchers whose work has had a significant impact across various scientific disciplines. This article explains what is the methodology and selection criteria of the Top 2% Scientists List. You can also read this article that explains what is What is the World’s Top 2% Scientists list by Stanford University.

Methodology

The ranking is based on a composite indicator (c-score) calculated from six citation metrics:

• Total citations (NC)
• H-index (H)
• Hm-index (H-index adjusted for the number of authors)
• Citations to single-author papers (NCS)
• Citations to single or first-author papers (NCSF)
• Citations to single, first, or last-author papers (NCSFL)
• The c-score combines these metrics to provide a comprehensive measure of a scientist’s impact, accounting for both the quantity and the quality of their contributions.

Selection Criteria

There are two selection criteria for the Top 2% Scientists List. First Top 100,000 Scientists and then Top 2% Percentile.

Top 100,000 Scientists: Scholars are ranked based on their c-score, including and excluding self-citations.

2% Percentile: Scientists in the top 2% of their sub-field are also included. Field and Sub-field Classification Researchers are categorized into 22 scientific fields and 174 sub-fields based on the standard Science-Metrix classification.

Data and Updates

• Career-long Impact: Metrics cover the entire career of a scientist up to the end of current year-1.
• Recent Year Impact: Metrics focus on citations received during current year-1.
• Latest Version: This latest version is based on the Scopus snapshot as of October 1, current year.
• Transparency and Accessibility: This is a publicly accessible database that includes standardized information on citations, h-index, co-authorship adjusted hm-index, and the c-score. Metrics are available with and without self-citations, and field-specific percentiles are included for all scientists with at least five papers.

For more detailed information, visit data.mendeley.com.