Use of the link ranking method to evaluate scientific activities of Scientific space subjects

Abstract

A modification of the PageRank method based on link ranking is proposed to evaluate the research results of subjects of the scientific space, taking into account selfcitation. The method of reducing the influence of self-citation on the final evaluation of the results of research activity of subjects of the scientific space is described. The evaluation of the results of research is calculated using the modified PR-q method, taking into account self-citation as a solution of a system of linear algebraic equations, matrix of which consists of coefficients determined by the number of citations of publications of one scientist in the publications of another scientist. The described method can be used for the task of evaluating the activity of the components of the scientific space: scientists, higher education institutions and their structural units. For the task of evaluating the research activity of subjects of the scientific space, a method based on link ranking (PageRank method for web pages) and taking into account the selfcitation of scientists is proposed. The latter allows for an adequate assessment, taking into account the abuses associated with the authors’ excessive self-citation. The essence of the constructed method lies in the construction of a system of linear algebraic equations, whose coefficients of the matrix reflect the citations of some scientists by others in the citation network of scientific publications. The value of the coefficients of the matrix of such a system of linear algebraic equations is subject to certain restrictions, which allow to reduce the influence of the factor of excessive self-citation of the author on his overall assessment of research activity. The described method can be used to calculate the complex evaluation of the components of the scientific space: the scientist, the institution of higher education and its separate structural units. Evaluating research results provides an opportunity to verify the relevance of the research process to the goals identified at the planning stage and, if necessary, to adjust the progress of those studies. Also, the calculation of research evaluations of the components (objects and entities) of the scientific space is a powerful tool for managing research projects.