  In Hungary, the highest and most prestigious scientific qualification is
considered to be the Doctor of Science (DSc) title being awarded by the
Hungarian Academy of Sciences. The academic performance indicators of the DSc
title are of high importance in the evaluation of individuals' research
performance not only when a researcher applies for obtaining a DSc title, but
also during promotions and appointments at universities, and in the case of the
evaluation of applications for scientific titles and degrees, and the
assessment of applications for funding. In the Section of Earth Sciences
encompassing nine related disciplines, rather than carrying out a
straightforward bibliometric analysis, the performance indicators were designed
as a result of a consensual agreement between leading academicians, each of
whom represented a particular discipline. Therefore, the minimum values of the
indicators, required to be fulfilled if one is applying for a DSc title, do not
adequately reflect the actual discipline-specific performance of researchers.
This problem may generate tension between researchers during the evaluation
process. The main goal of this paper is to recalibrate the minimum values of
four major performance indicators by taking the actual discipline-specific
distance ratios into account. In addition, each minimum value will be defined
by employing integer and fractional counting methods as well. The research
outcome of this study can provide impetus for the Section of Earth Sciences to
optimize the minimum values of the DSc title performance indicators by taking
the specifics of each discipline into account. Because academic performance
indicators are also employed in other Eastern European countries in the
evaluation of individuals' research performance, the methods used in that paper
can be placed into a wider geographical context.
