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The Forensic A-Index

A New Citation Algorithm for Restoring Integrity in Scientific Metrics.

Explore the A-Index

Enter a researcher's ORCID to calculate their A-Index and compare it with their h-index.

Like the h-index, the A-Index measures an author's citation impact. Unlike the h-index, it does not take every citation at face value: fake and manipulated citations are discounted or ignored, so the result reflects real scientific influence.

Comparison

h-index vs A-Index

The h-index counts citations. The A-Index examines them.

h-index
A-Index
What is counted
Every citation counts the same.
Each citation is weighted by why the paper was cited.
Authorship
Every co-author gets full credit.
Credit is allocated by the author's role in the paper.
Citation rings
Reciprocal citing between the same authors raises the score.
Closed citation loops are detected and penalized.
Incidental mentions
A passing mention counts as much as foundational use.
Passing mentions carry far less weight than foundational use.
Authorship verification
None.
A technical knowledge audit checks the author understands the work.
The Algorithm

How the A-Index Is Calculated

1
Role-based attribution

Citations are allocated according to functional authorship roles, so first and last authors are credited differently from middle authors.

2
Citation intent weighting

Each citation is analysed in context: foundational use carries full weight, comparative benchmarking less, and incidental mentions in a literature review the least.

3
Network density penalty

When authors cite each other at rates far higher than average, the closed loop is flagged as a possible citation cartel and a penalty is applied.

4
Technical knowledge audit

A short AI-led dialogue verifies that the author genuinely understands the paper that carries their name.

Calculate an A-Index

Look up a researcher by ORCID and see how their A-Index compares with their h-index.

Explore the A-Index