Are the Editors Responsible for Our Obsession with the Impact Factor?

Argüelles, Juan-Carlos; Arguelles-Prieto, Raquel

doi:10.1128/mbio.02019-17

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“… 2 , 13 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 As a result of the IF's perceived reflection on a journal's reputation and influence, increasing IF is frequently an objective of journal editors and publishers. 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 Moreover, the import that IF has to journals’ readerships and authors is reflected, for example, by the prominent placement of the IF on journal websites as well as reference to IF in editorials. 26 , 27 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nevertheless, despite its limitations and the availability of viable metric alternatives, the IF remains an important metric used in assessing a journal, its publications and its authors by academicians, their institutions, and their funding agencies 2,13,15–20 . As a result of the IF's perceived reflection on a journal's reputation and influence, increasing IF is frequently an objective of journal editors and publishers 21–25 . Moreover, the import that IF has to journals’ readerships and authors is reflected, for example, by the prominent placement of the IF on journal websites as well as reference to IF in editorials 26,27 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2,13,[15][16][17][18][19][20] As a result of the IF's perceived reflection on a journal's reputation and influence, increasing IF is frequently an objective of journal editors and publishers. [21][22][23][24][25] Moreover, the import that IF has to journals' readerships and authors is reflected, for example, by the prominent placement of the IF on journal websites as well as reference to IF in editorials. 26,27 With the significance held by IF in the reputation of journals as well as their respective articles and authors, an understanding of the determinants of IF is clearly of great significance to the readership and editorial offices of the otolaryngology scientific literature.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Determinants of impact factor and Eigenfactor score in otolaryngology journals

Ali

Phillips

Sedaghat

2023

Laryngoscope Investig Oto

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Objective This study aims to identify determinants of high impact, measured by Impact Factor (IF) and Eigenfactor score, among otolaryngology journals. Methods Bibliometric data of “otorhinolaryngology” journals were collected from the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) database. For the years 2009–2020, we collected normalized Eigenfactor score, 5‐year IF, immediacy index, fraction of IF from journal‐self citation, proportion and magnitude of published citable articles, and total citation counts. High‐IF and ‐Eigenfactor journals were considered those within the top‐quartile of that metric each respective year. Results High‐IF and ‐Eigenfactor otolaryngology journals displayed higher 5‐year IFs, immediacy indexes, and IF without self‐citation ( p < .05 for all years) including total citations counts and citable articles when ranked by Eigenfactor ( p < .05 for all years). Otolaryngology IF correlated with 5‐year IF and immediacy index within the same year ( p < .05 for all years) and from previous years ( p < .05 for all years; p < .05 for 2017‐2018; p > .05 for 2009‐2016). Eigenfactor correlated with 5‐year IF, total citation counts, and citable articles within the same year ( p < .05 for all years) and previous years ( p < .05 for 2013–2018). Multilinear regression revealed that 5‐year IF ( p < .05 for 2009–2018) and immediacy index from the prior 2 years ( p < .05 for 2017‐2018; p > .05 for 2009‐2016) predicted 2019 IF. Similarly, 5‐year IF, total citation counts, and citable articles ( p < .05 for 2013–2018) predicted 2019 Eigenfactor score. Conclusion Sustained publication of impactful articles is the dominant driver of high IF and Eigenfactor score. Eigenfactor score reflects a unique evaluation of otolaryngology journals; ranking otolaryngology journals by their Eigenfactor scores significantly alters journal ranking compared to ranking by IF. Level of evidence NA.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Determinants of impact factor and Eigenfactor score in otolaryngology journals

Ali

Phillips

Sedaghat

2023

Laryngoscope Investig Oto

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“…Citations are also used to calculate metrics such as Journal Impact Factor (JIF) [2]. Editors of scholarly journals may seek manuscripts with a potential for attracting high citation counts, in an effort to increase their JIF, improve their status, and attract the best manuscripts in future [3][4][5][6]. Some manuscripts may receive disproportionate attention of other researchers and very high number of citations [7,8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research methodology used in the 50 most cited articles in the field of pediatrics: types of studies that become citation classics

Kadić

Kovačević

Runjić

et al. 2020

BMC Med Res Methodol

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Background: One of the frequently used methods for assessing research trends and the impact of published scientific literature in a particular discipline is citation analysis. Journals may strive to improve their metrics by choosing manuscripts and study designs that are more likely to be cited. The aim of this study was to identify the 50 most-cited articles in the field of pediatrics, analyze their study design and other characteristics of those articles, and assess the prevalence of systematic reviews among them. Methods: In December 2017, we searched Web of Science (WoS) for all articles published in the field of pediatrics. Two authors screened articles independently and in the further analysis included 50 articles with the highest number of citations. To avoid bias for scientific papers published earlier, the citation density was calculated. We also analyzed Journal Impact Factor (JIF) of journals where citation classics were published. Results: The citation density in top 50 cited articles in the field of pediatrics ranged from 33.16 to 432.8, with the average of 119.95. Most of the articles reported clinical science. Median 2016 JIF for journals that published them was 6.226 (range: 2.778 to 72.406). Half of the top 10 highly cited articles in pediatrics were published in a journal with JIF below 5. Most of the studies among the citation classics in pediatrics were cross-sectional studies (N = 22), followed by non-systematic narrative reviews (N = 10), randomized controlled trials (N = 5), cohort studies (N = 5), systematic reviews (N = 2), case-control studies (N = 2), case reports (N = 2), and there was one study protocol and one expert opinion. Conclusion: Few randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews were among citation classics in the field of pediatrics. Articles that use observational research methodology, and are published in journals with lower impact factors, can become citation classics.

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Trends in Microbiology publications: are classic scientific journals condemned to extinction?

Maicas

Sánchez-Fresneda

Argüelles

2020

FEMS Microbiology Letters

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Scientific journals have played an essential role in the diffusion of research breakthroughs. For many years there was no competition between journals, but, in recent decades they have become categorized by a careful assessment of their published contents based on several metric parameters. Of greater note, the ‘prestige index’ has become an essential tool used by public and private institutions to develop their scientific policy. Thus, the evaluation of research staffs, the concession of grants or fellowships, and even the scholarly reputation and academic positions are mainly founded on a given journal's ‘quality’. As a consequence, the prestige of some journals has gone up, based on the assumption that they publish cutting-edge science, while the reputation of others has gone down. Within the field of Microbiology, we have carried out a direct analysis by monitoring several representative classic journals according to customary metric parameters over twenty years. This analysis also covers another set of journals of recent appearance (novel journals). Although a direct comparison between both groups is not possible, this approach serves to perceive the trends of publication among microbiologists. Our preliminary conclusion is that the continued existence of many so-termed classic journals devoted to Microbiology is seriously threatened.

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Are the Editors Responsible for Our Obsession with the Impact Factor?

Cited by 5 publications

References 4 publications

Determinants of impact factor and Eigenfactor score in otolaryngology journals

Determinants of impact factor and Eigenfactor score in otolaryngology journals

Research methodology used in the 50 most cited articles in the field of pediatrics: types of studies that become citation classics

Trends in Microbiology publications: are classic scientific journals condemned to extinction?

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