Highly Cited Thresholds

The highly cited threshold is the minimum number of citations received by the top 1% of papers in the research field published in the specified year.

When the calculated threshold is two or fewer for a subject category in a given year, no paper in that category and year receives a Highly Cited designation. This low threshold decision is based on observations that only two citations is small evidence of highly cited paper status. Papers cited at low levels tend to exhibit more volatility with respect to highly cited status over subsequent ESI updates.

Sample Report

In the following report, the top 1% of papers in Physics added to Web of Science in 2010 received at least 44 citations. The top 1% of papers in Plant & Animal Science added to Web of Science in 2011 received at least 16 citations. Articles citing the 2010 papers may have been published between 2010 and 2013. Articles citing the 2011 papers may have been published between 2011 and 2013.

Field	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013
Physics	61	44	26	10	0
Plant & Animal Science	42	29	16	6	0