A Hirsch-type index of co-author partnership ability

The partnership ability index (φ) combines the number of co-authors and the times each of them acted as co-authors with a given author exactly the same way as Hirsch’s h-index combines the number of publications and their citation rate. The index φ was tested on the sample of the Hevesy medal awardees. It was found that φ is consistent with Glänzel’s model of h-index, and that higher φ values—at least until a certain limit—may be accompanied with higher citation visibility (h-index). Some further possibilities of application both within and outside the area of scientometrics are suggested.