Skip to main content
Log in

Of Nobel class: A citation perspective on high impact research authors

  • Published:
Theoretical Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to determine if quantitative rankings of highly cited research authors confirm Nobel prize awards. Six studies covering different time periods and author sample sizes were reviewed. The number of Nobel laureates at the time each study was published was tabulated, as was the number of high impact authors who later became laureates. The Nobelists and laureates-to-be were also compared with non-Nobelists to see if they differed in terms of impact and productivity. The results indicate that high rankings by citation frequency identify researchersof Nobel class — that is, a small set of authors that includes a high proportion of actual Nobelists and laureates-to-be. Also, the average impact (citations per author) of Nobelists and laureates-to-be is sufficiently high to distinguish them from non-Nobelists in these rankings. In conclusion, a simple, quantitative, and objective algorithm based on citation data can effectively corroborate —and even forecast — a complex, qualitative, and subjective selection process based on human judgement.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Zuckerman H.Scientific Elite: Nobel Laureates in the United States. New York: The Free Press, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Garfield E. Citation indexing for studying science.Nature 1970;227:669–71.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Garfield E. More on forecasting Nobel Prizes and the most-cited scientists of 1972! In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 1. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1977:487–8.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Garfield E. The 250 most-cited primary authors, 1961–1975. Part I. How the names were selected. In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 3. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1980:326–36.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Garfield E. The 250 most-cited primary authors, 1961–1975. Part II. The correlation between citedness, Nobel Prizes, and academy memberships. In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 3. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1980:337–47.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Garfield E. The 250 most-cited primary authors, 1961–1975. Part III. Each author's most-cited publication. In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 3. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1980:348–63.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Garfield E. The 300 most-cited authors, 1961–1976, including co-authors at last. 1. How the names were selected. In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 3. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1980:538–50.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Garfield E. The 300 most-cited authors, 1961–1976, including co-authors. Part 2. The relationship between citedness, awards, and academy memberships. In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 3. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1980:587–612.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Garfield E. The 300 most-cited authors, 1961–1976, including co-authors. 3A. Their most-cited papers — introduction and journal analysis. In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 3. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1980:689–700.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Garfield E. The 300 most-cited authors, 1961–1976, including co-authors. 3B. Their most-cited papers and a correction note. In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 3. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1980:701–10.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Garfield E. The 300 most-cited authors, 1961–1976, including co-authors. 3C. Their most-cited papers and affiliation data. In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 3. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1980:711–22.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Garfield E. The 1,000 contemporary scientists most-cited 1965–1978. Part 1. The basic list and introduction. In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 5. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1983:269–78.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Garfield E. The 1,000 most-cited contemporary authors. Part 2A. Details on authors in the physical and chemical sciences and some comments about Nobels and academy memberships. In: Garfield E.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 5. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1983:428–36.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Garfield E. The 1,000 most-cited contemporary authors. Part 2B. Details on authors in biochemistry, biophysics, cell biology, enzymology, genetics, molecular biology, and plant sciences. In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 5. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1983:533–41.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Garfield E. The 1,000 most-cited contemporary authors. Part 2C. Details on authors in hematology, histology, immunology, microbiology, physiology, and virology. In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 5. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1983:542–50.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Garfield E. The 1,000 most-cited contemporary authors. Part 2D. Details on authors in cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, nephrology, neurobiology, neurology, neuropharmacology, nuclear medicine, oncology, pathology, pharmacology, psychiatry, and surgery. In: Garfield E,Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 5. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1983:562–70.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Garfield E. The 1,000 most-cited contemporary scientists. Part 3. Details on their current institutional affiliations. In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 5. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1983:591–606.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Garfield E. Are the 1979 prizewinnersof Nobel class? In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 4. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1981:609–17.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Cole JR, Cole S.Social Stratification in Science. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Cole S, Cole JR. Scientific output and recognition: a study in the operation of the reward system in science.American Sociological Review 1967;32:377–90.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Bayer AE, Folger J. Some correlates of a citation measure of productivity in science.Sociology of Education 1966;39:381–90.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Sher IH, Garfield E. New tools for improving and evaluating the effectiveness of research. In: Yovits MC, Gilford DM, Wilcox RH, Staveley E, Lemer HD, eds.Research Program Effectiveness. New York: Gordon and Breach, 1966:135–46.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Pendlebury D. The 1989 Nobel Prize in medicine: 20 who deserve it.The Scientist 1989 Oct 2:14(col 1), 16(col 1), 19(col 3).

  24. Garfield E. Who will win the Nobel Prize in economics? Here's a forecast based on citation indicators.Current Contents 1990; Mar 12:3–7.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Garfield E. The 100 most-cited authors of 20th century literature. Can citation data forecast the Nobel Prize in literature? In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 4. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1981:363–9.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Garfield E. Citation classics. 2. Articles from the life sciences 1930–39. In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 2. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1977:611–16.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Garfield E. Citation classics. 3. Articles from the physical sciences published in the 1930s. In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 2. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1977:617–22.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Garfield E. Highly cited articles. 35. Biochemistry papers published in the 1940s. In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 3. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1980:45–51.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Garfield E. Highly cited articles. 36. Physics, chemistry and mathematics papers published in the 1940s. In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 3. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1980:54–60.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Garfield E. Highly cited articles. 37. Biomedical articles published in the 1940s. In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 3. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1980:76–83.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Garfield E. Highly cited articles. 38. Physics and chemistry papers published in the 1950s. In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 3. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1980:125–9.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Garfield E. Highly cited articles. 39. Biochemistry papers published in the 1950s. In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 3. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1980:147–54.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Garfield E. Highly cited articles. 40. Biomedical and behavioral papers published in the 1950s. In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 3. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1980:179–86.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Garfield E. Most-cited articles of the 1960s. 1. Physical sciences. In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 4. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1981:156–66.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Garfield E. Most-cited articles of the 1960s. 2. Biochemistry and molecular biology. In: Garfield E. ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 4. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1981:254–63.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Garfield E. Most-cited articles of the 1960s. 3. Preclinical basic research. In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 4. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1981:370–8

    Google Scholar 

  37. Garfield E. Most-cited articles of the 1960s. 4. Clinical research. In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 4. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1981:379–88.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Garfield E. The 100 most-cited papers ever and how we selectCitation Classics. In: Garfield E, ed.The Awards of Science and Other Essays. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1985:175–81. (Essays of an Information Scientist; Vol 7).

    Google Scholar 

  39. Garfield E. The articles most cited in 1961–1982. 2. Another 100Citation Classics highlight the technology of science. In: Garfield E, ed.The Awards of Science and Other Essays. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1985:218–27. (Essays of an Information Scientist; Vol 7).

    Google Scholar 

  40. Garfield E. The articles most cited in 1961–1982. 3. Another 100 all-timeCitation Classics. In: Garfield E, ed.The Awards of Science and Other Essays. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1985:270–6. (Essays of an Information Scientist; Vol 7).

    Google Scholar 

  41. Garfield E. The articles most cited in 1961–1982. 4. 100 additionalCitation Classics. In: Garfield E, ed.The Awards of Science and Other Essays. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1985:306–12. (Essays of an Information Scientist; Vol 7).

    Google Scholar 

  42. Garfield E. The articles most cited in 1961–1982. 5. Another 100Citation Classics and a summary of the 500 papers identified to date. In: Garfield E, ed.The Awards of Science and Other Essays. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1985:326–35. (Essays of an Information Scientist; Vol 7).

    Google Scholar 

  43. Garfield E. The articles most cited in theSCI from 1961 to 1982. 6. MoreCitation Classics to think about. In: Garfield E, ed.Ghostwriting and Other Essays. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1986:132–9. (Essays of an Information Scientist; Vol 8).

    Google Scholar 

  44. Garfield E. The articles most cited in theSCI from 1961 to 1982. 7. Another 100Citation Classics: the Watson-Crick double helix has its turn. In: Garfield E, ed.Ghostwriting and Other Essays. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1986:187–96. (Essays of an Information Scientist; Vol 8).

    Google Scholar 

  45. Garfield E. The articles most cited in theSCI from 1961 to 1982. 8. Ninety-eight more classic papers from unimolecular reaction velocities to natural opiates: the changing frontiers of science. In: Garfield E, ed.Ghostwriting and Other Essays. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1986:311–19. (Essays of an Information Scientist; Vol 8).

    Google Scholar 

  46. Garfield E. The articles most cited in theSCI, 1961–1982. 9. More contemporary classics of science. In: Garfield E, ed.Towards Scientography. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1988:55–64. (Essays of an Information Scientist; Vol 9).

    Google Scholar 

  47. Garfield E. The 1,000 articles most cited in 1961–1982. 10. Another 100 citation classics cap the millenary. In: Garfield E, ed.Towards Scientography. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1988:118–29. (Essays of an Information Scientist; Vol 9).

    Google Scholar 

  48. Lowry OH, Rosebrough NJ, Farr Al, Randall RJ. Protein measurement with the Folin phenol reagent.J Biol Chem 1951;193:265–75.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Merton RK.On the Shoulders of Giants: a Shandean Postscript. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1965.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Garfield E. The ‘obliteration phenomenon’ in science — and the advantage of being obliterated! In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 2. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1977:396–8.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Watson JD, Crick FHC. Molecular structure of nucleic acids.Nature 1953;171:737–8.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Garfield E. Premature discovery or delayed recognition — why? In: Garfield E, ed.Essays of an Information Scientist. Vol 4. Philadelphia: ISI Press, 1981:488–93.

    Google Scholar 

  53. Zuckerman H, Lederberg J. Postmature scientific discovery?Nature 1986;324:629–31.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Garfield E. The most-cited papers of all time,SCI 1945–1988. Part 1A. TheSCI Top 100 — will the Lowry method ever be obliterated?Current Contents 1990; Feb 12:3–14.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Garfield E. The most-cited papers of all time,SCI 1945–1988. Part 2. The second 100Citation Classics. Current Contents 1990; June 25:3–13.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Garfield E. The most-cited papers of all time,SCI 1945–1988. Part 3. Another 100 from theCitation Classics hall of fame.Current Contents 1990; Aug 20:3–13.

    Google Scholar 

  57. Small H. Co-citation in the scientific literature: a new measure of the relationship between two documents.Journal of the American Society for Information Science 1973;24:265–9.

    Google Scholar 

  58. Small H, Garfield E. The geography of science: discipinary and national mappings.Journal of Information Science 1985;147–59.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Garfield, E., Welljams-Dorof, A. Of Nobel class: A citation perspective on high impact research authors. Theor Med Bioeth 13, 117–135 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02163625

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02163625

Key words

Navigation