1
|
Mech E, Ahmed MM, Tamale E, Holek M, Li G, Thabane L. Evaluating Journal Impact Factor: a systematic survey of the pros and cons, and overview of alternative measures. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2020; 26:e20190082. [PMID: 32944018 PMCID: PMC7458102 DOI: 10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2019-0082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Journal Impact Factor (JIF) has several intrinsic flaws, which highlight its inability to adequately measure citation distributions or indicate journal quality. Despite these flaws, JIF is still widely used within the academic community, resulting in the propagation of potentially misleading information. A critical review of the usefulness of JIF is needed including an overview of the literature to identify viable alternative metrics. The objectives of this study are: (1) to assess the usefulness of JIF by compiling and comparing its advantages and disadvantages; (2) to record the differential uses of JIF within research environments; and (3) to summarize and compare viable alternative measures to JIF. Methods Three separate literature search strategies using MEDLINE and Web of Science were completed to address the three study objectives. Each search was completed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Results were compiled in tabular format and analyzed based on reporting frequency. Results For objective (1), 84 studies were included in qualitative analysis. It was found that the recorded advantages of JIF were outweighed by disadvantages (18 disadvantages vs. 9 advantages). For objective (2), 653 records were included in a qualitative analysis. JIF was found to be most commonly used in journal ranking (n = 653, 100%) and calculation of scientific research productivity (n = 367, 56.2%). For objective (3), 65 works were included in qualitative analysis. These articles revealed 45 alternatives, which includes 18 alternatives that improve on highly reported disadvantages of JIF. Conclusion JIF has many disadvantages and is applied beyond its original intent, leading to inaccurate information. Several metrics have been identified to improve on certain disadvantages of JIF. Integrated Impact Indicator (I3) shows great promise as an alternative to JIF. However, further scientometric analysis is needed to assess its properties.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eugene Mech
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Muhammad Muneeb Ahmed
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Edward Tamale
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Matthew Holek
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Guowei Li
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Methodology (CCEM), Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, China
| | - Lehana Thabane
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Biostatistics Unit, Research Institute at St Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Department of Anesthesia, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,School of Nursing, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bertoli-Barsotti L, Lando T. A theoretical model of the relationship between the h-index and other simple citation indicators. Scientometrics 2017; 111:1415-1448. [PMID: 28596626 PMCID: PMC5438441 DOI: 10.1007/s11192-017-2351-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Of the existing theoretical formulas for the h-index, those recently suggested by Burrell (J Informetr 7:774-783, 2013b) and by Bertoli-Barsotti and Lando (J Informetr 9(4):762-776, 2015) have proved very effective in estimating the actual value of the h-index Hirsch (Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 102:16569-16572, 2005), at least at the level of the individual scientist. These approaches lead (or may lead) to two slightly different formulas, being based, respectively, on a "standard" and a "shifted" version of the geometric distribution. In this paper, we review the genesis of these two formulas-which we shall call the "basic" and "improved" Lambert-W formula for the h-index-and compare their effectiveness with that of a number of instances taken from the well-known Glänzel-Schubert class of models for the h-index (based, instead, on a Paretian model) by means of an empirical study. All the formulas considered in the comparison are "ready-to-use", i.e., functions of simple citation indicators such as: the total number of publications; the total number of citations; the total number of cited paper; the number of citations of the most cited paper. The empirical study is based on citation data obtained from two different sets of journals belonging to two different scientific fields: more specifically, 231 journals from the area of "Statistics and Mathematical Methods" and 100 journals from the area of "Economics, Econometrics and Finance", totaling almost 100,000 and 20,000 publications, respectively. The citation data refer to different publication/citation time windows, different types of "citable" documents, and alternative approaches to the analysis of the citation process ("prospective" and "retrospective"). We conclude that, especially in its improved version, the Lambert-W formula for the h-index provides a quite robust and effective ready-to-use rule that should be preferred to other known formulas if one's goal is (simply) to derive a reliable estimate of the h-index.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lucio Bertoli-Barsotti
- Department of Management, Economics and Quantitative Methods, University of Bergamo, via dei Caniana 2, 24127 Bergamo, Italy
| | - Tommaso Lando
- Department of Management, Economics and Quantitative Methods, University of Bergamo, via dei Caniana 2, 24127 Bergamo, Italy
- Department of Finance, VŠB -TU Ostrava, Sokolskà 33, 70121 Ostrava, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zibareva IV, Vedyagin AA, Bukhtiyarov VI. Kinetika i Kataliz: 55 years in the bibliometric dimension. KINETICS AND CATALYSIS 2016. [DOI: 10.1134/s0023158416010146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
|
4
|
Moed HF. Comprehensive indicator comparisons intelligible to non-experts: the case of two SNIP versions. Scientometrics 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s11192-015-1781-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
|
5
|
Abstract
Purpose
– Although journal rankings are important for authors, readers, publishers, promotion, and tenure committees, it has been argued that the use of different measures (e.g. the journal impact factor (JIF), and Hirsch’s h-index) often lead to different journal rankings, which render it difficult to make an appropriate decision. A hybrid ranking method based on the Borda count approach, the Standardized Average Index (SA index), was introduced to solve this problem. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
– Citations received by the articles published in 85 Health Care Sciences and Services (HCSS) journals in the period of 2009-2013 were analyzed with the use of the JIF, the h-index, and the SA index.
Findings
– The SA index exhibits a high correlation with the JIF and the h-index (γ
>
0.9, p
<
0.01) and yields results with higher accuracy than the h-index. The new, comprehensive citation impact analysis of the 85 HCSS journals shows that the SA index can help researchers to find journals with both high JIFs and high h-indices more easily, thereby harvesting references for paper submissions and research directions.
Originality/value
– The contribution of this study is the application of the Borda count approach to combine the HCSS journal rankings produced by the two widely accepted indices of the JIF and the h-index. The new HCSS journal rankings can be used by publishers, journal editors, researchers, policymakers, librarians, and practitioners as a reference for journal selection and the establishment of decisions and professional judgment.
Collapse
|
6
|
Restricting the h-index to a publication and citation time window: A case study of a timed Hirsch index. J Informetr 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.joi.2014.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
|
7
|
Hunt GE, Jackson D, Watson R, Cleary M. A citation analysis of nurse education journals using various bibliometric indicators. J Adv Nurs 2013; 69:1441-5. [PMID: 23725531 DOI: 10.1111/jan.12069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
8
|
Soh N, Walter G, Touyz S, Russell J, Malhi GS, Hunt GE. Food for thought: comparison of citations received from articles appearing in specialized eating disorder journals versus general psychiatry journals. Int J Eat Disord 2012; 45:990-4. [PMID: 22729837 DOI: 10.1002/eat.22036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/15/2012] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To conduct a bibliometric analysis of eating disorder journals to guide journal readers and researchers when submitting their manuscripts. METHOD Several indices were used to compare journal impact and citations of articles appearing between 1996 and 2010 in six eating disorders journals and six leading general psychiatry journals. RESULTS The International Journal of Eating Disorders (IJED) had the highest journal impact factor (JIF, 2.278) of the six eating disorders' journals. The general psychiatry journals had higher JIFs and received more citations per eating disorder article than the specialized journals. However, IJED published the highest number of eating disorder articles between 1996 and 2010, and 35 of these articles received at least 100 citations. DISCUSSION Using the JIF alone to decide where to submit a manuscript is a poor strategy, as this does not take into consideration the impact an article can have within the eating disorder's field over time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nerissa Soh
- Northern Sydney Local Health District, North Ryde, Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Malesios C, Abas Z. Examination of the impact of animal and dairy science journals based on traditional and newly developed bibliometric indices. J Anim Sci 2012; 90:5170-81. [DOI: 10.2527/jas.2012-5278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- C. Malesios
- Department of Agricultural Development, Democritus University of Thrace, Pantazidou 193, Orestiada, Greece
| | - Z. Abas
- Department of Agricultural Development, Democritus University of Thrace, Pantazidou 193, Orestiada, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Using the h-index to measure the quality of journals in the field of business and management. Inf Process Manag 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ipm.2011.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
|
11
|
Zibareva IV. Chemistry databases of the scientific and technical network STN International. Russ Chem Bull 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s11172-012-0104-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
12
|
Vinkler P. The Garfield impact factor, one of the fundamental indicators in scientometrics. Scientometrics 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s11192-012-0688-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
|
13
|
|
14
|
Diversity, value and limitations of the journal impact factor and alternative metrics. Rheumatol Int 2011; 32:1861-7. [DOI: 10.1007/s00296-011-2276-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2011] [Accepted: 12/08/2011] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
|
15
|
Hunt GE, Walter G, Cleary M, Soh N, Martin A, Malhi GS. Fields of interest and influence: a new method for sourcing and ranking journals in psychiatry. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 2011; 45:614-8. [PMID: 21870921 DOI: 10.3109/00048674.2011.603286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Glenn E. Hunt
- Discipline of Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, New South Wales, 2139 Australia
| | - Garry Walter
- Discipline of Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, Northern Sydney Local Health Network, Coral Tree Family Service, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
- Family and Community Health Research Group, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Western Sydney, Penrith South, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Michelle Cleary
- Family and Community Health Research Group, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Western Sydney, Penrith South, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nerissa Soh
- Northern Sydney Local Health Network, Coral Tree Family Service, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Andrés Martin
- Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
| | - Gin S. Malhi
- Discipline of Psychiatry, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; CADE Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, Royal North Shore Hospital, New South Wales, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Bornmann L, Mutz R, Hug SE, Daniel HD. A multilevel meta-analysis of studies reporting correlations between the h index and 37 different h index variants. J Informetr 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.joi.2011.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
17
|
Norris M, Oppenheim C. Theh‐index: a broad review of a new bibliometric indicator. JOURNAL OF DOCUMENTATION 2010. [DOI: 10.1108/00220411011066790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
|
18
|
Psychiatry and the Hirsch h-index: The relationship between journal impact factors and accrued citations. Harv Rev Psychiatry 2010; 18:207-19. [PMID: 20597591 DOI: 10.3109/10673229.2010.493742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
There is considerable debate on the use and abuse of journal impact factors and on selecting the most appropriate indicator to assess research outcome for an individual or group of scientists. Internet searches using Web of Science and Scopus were conducted to retrieve citation data for an individual in order to calculate nine variants of Hirsch's h-index. Citations to articles published in a wide range of psychiatric journals in the periods 1995-99 and 2000-05 were analyzed using Web of Science. Comparisons were made between journal impact factor, h-index of citations from publication to 2008, and the proportion of articles cited at least 30 or 50 times. For up to 14 years post-publication, there was a strong positive relationship between journal impact factor and h-index for citations received. Journal impact factor was also compared to the percentage of articles cited at least 30 or 50 times-a comparison that showed wide variations between journals with similar impact factors. This study found that 40%-50% of the articles published in the top ten psychiatry journals ranked by impact factor acquire 30 to 50 citations within ten to fifteen years. Despite certain flaws and weaknesses, the h-index provides a better way to assess long-term performance of articles or authors than using a journal's impact factor, and it provides an alternative way to assess a journal's long-term ranking.
Collapse
|
19
|
Bar-Ilan J. Rankings of information and library science journals by JIF and by h-type indices. J Informetr 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.joi.2009.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|
20
|
Yin CY, Aris MJ, Chen X. Combination of Eigenfactor TM and h-index to evaluate scientific journals. Scientometrics 2009. [DOI: 10.1007/s11192-009-0116-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|
21
|
Alonso S, Cabrerizo F, Herrera-Viedma E, Herrera F. h-Index: A review focused in its variants, computation and standardization for different scientific fields. J Informetr 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.joi.2009.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 492] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|
22
|
Berhidi A, Szluka P, Vasas L. [New bibliometric indicators. Is this the end of the impact factor era?]. Magy Onkol 2009; 53:115-25. [PMID: 19581177 DOI: 10.1556/monkol.53.2009.2.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
More and more bibliometric indicators emerge beside the impact factor, and a few of them are promising performance indicators. The aim of the study is to show briefly, but clearly the newest bibliometric measure numbers - like the recent enhancements of Journal Citation Report Web, Hirsch-index, Eigenfactor and SCImago Journal & Country Rank algorithms - focusing on the ranking of oncological journals, and to demonstrate the similarities and differences of the results with some examples. There are unified and well-structured web pages behind the newly appeared indicators, and some of the new numbers are presented in the well-known databases (Web of Science, Scopus) as scientific measures. The ranking of the compared oncological journals based on the different indicators show more similarities than differences, but more in-depth studies are required to find out how the results converge on any scientific area. There are some other methods, such as usage factor of the journals, beyond the indicators based on the citations. But the main point is that any ranking system should be a valid and correct representation of the scientific quality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Berhidi
- Semmelweis Egyetem Központi Könyvtár 1088 Budapest Mikszáth tér 5.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|