Research Metrics in Architecture: An Analysis of the Current Challenges Compared to Engineering Disciplines

The Hirsch index (‘h-index’) is a widely recognized metric for assessing researchers’ impact, considering both the quantity and quality of their research work. Despite its global acceptance, the h-index has created some uncertainty about appropriate benchmark values across different disciplines. One such area of concern is architecture, which is often at a disadvantage compared to the fields of science and engineering. To examine this disparity, this study compared the citation count and h-index in architecture with those of other engineering disciplines. Data were collected extensively from Scopus database, focusing on the top 50 universities. The analysis revealed that architecture consistently recorded lower citation counts and h-index values than the selected engineering fields. Specifically, the average h-index for faculty members at the associate and full professor ranks was found to be 7.0 in architecture, compared to 22.8 in civil engineering and 25.6 in mechanical engineering. The findings highlight that a universal h-index benchmark is impractical, as research areas significantly vary in terms of research opportunities, challenges, and performance expectations. Thus, this study proposes the adoption of an additional relative h-index metric, ‘hr-index’, which accounts for the deviation of individual researchers from the average h-index value within their fields of knowledge. This metric can serve as a complement to the standard h-index, providing a more equitable and accurate assessment of researchers’ performance and impact within their areas of expertise.