How to Determine a Professor's Total Citations Without a Google Scholar Profile

When a professor lacks a Google Scholar profile, it can be challenging to determine their total number of citations. However, there are several alternative methods to gather this information. This article explores these methods and provides a comprehensive guide to help you accurately assess a professor's citation impact.

Alternative Methods for Finding Citations

When a professor does not have a Google Scholar profile, there are still several ways to access their citation metrics:

Institutional Repository: Check the university or institution’s repository. Many universities maintain detailed profiles for faculty members, including publication lists and citation metrics. ResearchGate: If the professor has a profile on ResearchGate, their publications and citation metrics are often available. You may need to create an account to access some features. Scopus: This is a comprehensive database of peer-reviewed literature. It provides citation data for a wide range of academic journals accessible through academic institutions and libraries. Web of Science: Similar to Scopus, Web of Science also provides citation data for academic journals. Access is typically available through academic institutions. ORCID: With an ORCID iD, you can look up the professor's profile on the ORCID website, which may include publication lists and citation counts. PubMed: For professors in the biomedical field, search for their publications on PubMed. While it won’t provide total citation counts directly, it can help compile a list of their work. Academic Social Networks: Besides ResearchGate, platforms like Academia.edu may have their publications and citation information. Manual Search: If you know the professor's key publications, search for them individually in databases like Google Scholar, Scopus, or Web of Science to find citation counts. Contact the Professor: If possible, directly reach out to the professor or their administrative support for information about their citation counts.

By utilizing these diverse methods, you can compile a comprehensive view of a professor's citation impact, even if they do not have a Google Scholar profile.

Using Publish or Perish Software

To further analyze citations, consider using Anne-Wil Harzing's free software, Publish or Perish. This software can analyze citations from Google Scholar and provide a more comprehensive breakdown:

Harzing, A.W. (2007). Publish or Perish. Available from: Publish or Perish

Note her caveat: We would be concerned if it would be used for academic staff evaluation purposes in a mechanistic way.

The software is a powerful tool for researchers looking to gather detailed citation data, but it is essential to use it responsibly and ethically, especially in academic evaluation contexts.

Conclusion

Determining a professor's total citations without a Google Scholar profile may require multiple approaches, but the information is readily available through various research databases and platforms. By leveraging these resources, you can accurately assess a professor's impact and contributions to their field.