Power-law distributions, the h-index, and Google Scholar (GS) citations: a test of their relationship with economics Nobelists

Abstract

This paper presents proof that Google Scholar (GS) can construct documentary sets relevant for evaluating researchers' works. Nobelists in economics were the researchers under analysis, and two types of tests of the GS cites to their works were performed: distributional and semantic. Distributional tests found that the GS cites to the laureates' works conformed to the power-law model with an asymptote or "tail" conterminous with their h-index demarcating their core oeuvre, validating both GS and the h-index. Semantic tests revealed that their works highest in GS cites were on topics for which they were awarded the prize.