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Transitioning from a Conventional to a ‘Mega’ Journal: A Bibliometric Case Study of the Journal Medicine

Author

Listed:
  • Simon Wakeling

    (Information School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DP, UK)

  • Peter Willett

    (Information School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DP, UK)

  • Claire Creaser

    (Library and Information Statistics Unit, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK)

  • Jenny Fry

    (School of the Arts, English and Drama, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK)

  • Stephen Pinfield

    (Information School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 4DP, UK)

  • Valerie Spezi

    (Library and Information Statistics Unit, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK)

Abstract

Open-Access Mega-Journals (OAMJs) are a relatively new and increasingly important publishing phenomenon. The journal Medicine is in the unique position of having transitioned in 2014 from being a ‘traditional’ highly-selective journal to the OAMJ model. This study compares the bibliometric profile of the journal Medicine before and after its transition to the OAMJ model. Three standard modes of bibliometric analysis are employed, based on data from Web of Science : journal output volume, author characteristics, and citation analysis. The journal’s article output is seen to have grown hugely since its conversion to an OAMJ, a rise driven in large part by authors from China. Articles published since 2015 have fewer citations, and are cited by lower impact journals than articles published before the OAMJ transition. The adoption of the OAMJ model has completely changed the bibliometric profile of the journal, raising questions about the impact of OAMJ peer-review practices. In many respects, the post-2014 version of Medicine is best viewed as a new journal rather than a continuation of the original title.

Suggested Citation

  • Simon Wakeling & Peter Willett & Claire Creaser & Jenny Fry & Stephen Pinfield & Valerie Spezi, 2017. "Transitioning from a Conventional to a ‘Mega’ Journal: A Bibliometric Case Study of the Journal Medicine," Publications, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-11, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jpubli:v:5:y:2017:i:2:p:7-:d:95090
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sulan Yan & Ronald Rousseau & Shuiqing Huang, 2016. "Contributions of chinese authors in PLOS ONE," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 67(3), pages 543-549, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mohammadamin Erfanmanesh & Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva, 2019. "Is the soundness-only quality control policy of open access mega journals linked to a higher rate of published errors?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 120(2), pages 917-923, August.
    2. Manvendra Janmaijaya & Amit K. Shukla & Ajith Abraham & Pranab K. Muhuri, 2018. "A Scientometric Study of Neurocomputing Publications (1992–2018): An Aerial Overview of Intrinsic Structure," Publications, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-22, July.

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