Normalization at the field level: Fractional counting of citations

Van Raan et al. (2010) accepted our critique for the case of journal normalization (previously CPP/JCSm); CWTS has in the meantime adapted its procedures. However, a new indicator was proposed for field normalization (previously CPP/FCSm), called the “mean normalized citation score” (MNCS; cf. Lundberg, 2007). In our opinion, this latter change does not sufficiently resolve the problems. Since the new indicator is considered another “crown indicator,” it seems urgent to warn against and elaborate on these remaining problems. In addition to damaging evaluation processes at the level of individuals and institutions, the “crown indicator” is also used by CWTS for the “Leiden Rankings,” and flaws in it can therefore misguide policies at national levels. also