Follow the Index: A new proposal

TL;DR

This paper proposes a new scientific impact index that better accounts for individual contributions and reduces literature pollution, aiming to improve fairness and accuracy in research assessments.

Contribution

It introduces a novel index addressing flaws of the h-index and presents a strategy that benefits all researchers.

Findings

The new index better reflects individual contributions.

The proposed strategy reduces literature pollution.

It offers a universally optimal approach for researchers.

Abstract

Despite all its well-known flaws and calls for its dismissal, the notorious $h$-index is still used in many instances when awarding grants, or promoting and hiring scientists. To address this, I set out to devise a better index, with the twofold aim of taking into account the authors' respective contributions and considerably reducing the pollution of the scientific literature. Finally, I present a strategy that is guaranteed to be best for all researchers.