Research Integrity Project: Exploring Diversity in Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researchers List

Summary

Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researchers (HCR) list is widely recognized as a measure of global research excellence. However, concerns about equity and methodological transparency have emerged. Literature has revealed growing evidence that the list disproportionately favours researchers from high-income, English-speaking regions, and scholars who are men. This study aims to assess diversity and representation within Clarivate’s HCR list by examining demographic and academic characteristics of listed researchers, using the PROGRESS-Plus framework to explore equity-related factors such as gender, geographic location, institutional affiliation, and research practices. A cross-sectional, descriptive analysis will be conducted using Clarivate’s HCR lists from 2014 to 2024. Descriptive statistics, cross-tabulations and comparative analyses, and social network analysis will be used to summarize characteristics, identify representation levels, and assess collaboration patterns. This project will inform future projects within the research integrity initiative.

Project Resources

• OSF Protocol
• Protocol Brief

Funded By

• Unity Health Toronto – St. Michael’s Hospital Foundation

Conflicts of Interest: Andrea Tricco, Sharon Straus and David Moher are on Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researchers list.