Are the bibliometric growth patterns of excellent scholars similar? From the analysis of ACM Fellows

Abstract

The growth of excellent scholars provides paradigmatic career paths leading to research success, as their research capabilities ultimately manifest as fluctuations in bibliometric indexes. Examining the commonalities in the trajectories of these bibliometric indexes displays the universal characteristics of their growth process, and furtherly shows exemplary routes to scientific success. In this study, we examine 287 excellent scholars elected as ACM Fellows in the field of computer science from 2016s to 2020s. Based on their changes in productivity, impact, and comprehensive abilities, we categorize them into three categories, four categories, and six categories, respectively. Most of these scholars experience continuous growth in productivity during the early development stages, maintaining a prolonged period of high productivity in the mid-later maturity stages. Their impact rises smoothly and consistently, while the growth of their comprehensive abilities is relatively gradual, remaining at above-average levels in the mid-later maturity stages. Furthermore, the level of recognition within the scientific research community varies for different categories of scholars, and there are also differences in the growth patterns between scholars from Asia and those from Western regions.