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The effect of citations on the significance of decimal places in the computation of journal impact factors

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  • Juan Miguel Campanario

    (Universidad de Alcalá)

Abstract

Journal impact factors (JIF) are computed by Thomson Reuters to three decimal places. Some authors have cast doubt on the validity of the third decimal place in JIFs. In this paper I present a new approach to evaluate the significance of decimal places in JIFs. To do so, two modified JIFs were computed by adding or removing one citation to the number used by Thomson Reuters to compute the JIF for journals listed in the 2008 Journal Citation Report. The rationale is that one citation is the minimum amount of impact that can be observed and analyzed. Next, the modified JIFs were compared with the original JIF to identify the decimal place that changed as consequence of adding or removing one citation. The results suggest that for about two-third of journals, the number of places used by Thomson Reuters to compute JIFs can be considered appropriate for the most part.

Suggested Citation

  • Juan Miguel Campanario, 2014. "The effect of citations on the significance of decimal places in the computation of journal impact factors," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 99(2), pages 289-298, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:99:y:2014:i:2:d:10.1007_s11192-013-1206-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-013-1206-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vinkler, Péter, 2013. "Would it be possible to increase the Hirsch-index, π-index or CDS-index by increasing the number of publications or citations only by unity?," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 7(1), pages 72-83.
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    7. Éric Archambault & Vincent Larivière, 2009. "History of the journal impact factor: Contingencies and consequences," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 79(3), pages 635-649, June.
    8. A. I. Pudovkin & Eugene Garfield, 2012. "Rank normalization of impact factors will resolve Vanclay’s dilemma with TRIF," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 92(2), pages 409-412, August.
    9. Juan Miguel Campanario, 2012. "Some research ideas on Journal Impact Factors as a crucial topic in science dynamics," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 92(2), pages 293-295, August.
    10. Jerome K. Vanclay, 2012. "Impact factor: outdated artefact or stepping-stone to journal certification?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 92(2), pages 211-238, August.
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    Cited by:

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