Digital Identity of Researchers and its Impact on Measuring Scientific Productivity and Improving H-Index: An Applied Study on a Sample of Faculty Members in the Field of Libraries and Information in Egyptian Universities

Document Type : Original Article

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Associate Professor of Information Science Department of Information Science, Faculty of Arts, Beni-Suef University

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to uncover digital identity and explore methods of quantifying scientific productivity with particular reference to its potentials and advantages. It also sought to develop some suggestions for the use of these methods in the scientific community in universities and, thus, improving both researchers h-index and ranking of universities. Using the descriptive analytical method, the researcher developed and administered a questionnaire to a sample of 80 faculty members belonging to the departments of libraries and information (n=16) in Egyptian universities. The findings of the study revealed that most participants (71.3%) had no training on how to benefit from digital identity and methods of quantifying scientific productivity. Besides, 46 (56.2%) participants were reported as not having a digital identity. Google Scholar Citations was reported as the most used tool by participants to get a researcher ID. Participants were reported as familiar with three methods for measurement of their authored research, with h-index ranking first, followed by i-10 index and G-index, respectively. This researcher suggests that, like Beni-Suef University, all Egyptian universities should ask their researchers to get a researcher ID number as a requirement for promotion. The Supreme Council of Universities should also assign 0.5 in the evaluation scheme of scientific journals to journals that provide researchers ID numbers in tandem with their affiliations and register reviewers on Publons.

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