Consistency pays off in science

TL;DR

This paper investigates how consistent high-quality research output influences scientific success, using Nobel laureates' publication data and introducing the E-index as a superior impact metric.

Contribution

It introduces the E-index, a new citation-based metric that better captures scientific excellence and demonstrates that consistent high-quality work correlates with success.

Findings

Consistent high-quality output is linked to greater scientific success.

The E-index outperforms existing impact measures in identifying excellence.

Nobel laureates tend to follow a pattern of producing high-impact work regularly.

Abstract

The exponentially growing number of scientific papers stimulates a discussion on the interplay between quantity and quality in science. In particular, one may wonder which publication strategy may offer more chances of success: publishing lots of papers, producing a few hit papers, or something in between. Here we tackle this question by studying the scientific portfolios of Nobel Prize laureates. A comparative analysis of different citation-based indicators of individual impact suggests that the best path to success may rely on consistently producing high-quality work. Such a pattern is especially rewarded by a new metric, the $E$-index, which identifies excellence better than state-of-the-art measures.