2006/12/31 by Jerome K. Vanclay, Jerome K Vanclay
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Computer Science · Decision Sciences · Medicine · #Academic Publishing and Open Access #Accounting #Accrual #Actuarial science #Bibliometrics #Citation #Citation impact #Computer science #Economics #Health and Medical Research Impacts #Impact factor #Law #Library science #Political science #Sample (material) #cs.DL #q-bio.OT #scientometrics and bibliometrics research
paper · pdf · doi:10.1007/s11192-008-1778-4
published as Scientometrics 78(1):3-12 (2009) · 9 pages, 8 figures; one reference corrected
arxiv created 2007/01/08 · openalex publication_date 2008/12/19 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
The ISI journal impact factor (JIF) is based on a sample that may represent half the whole-of-life citations to some journals, but a small fraction (<10%) of the citations accruing to other journals. This disproportionate sampling means that the JIF provides a misleading indication of the true impact of journals, biased in favour of journals that have a rapid rather than a prolonged impact. Many journals exhibit a consistent pattern of citation accrual from year to year, so it may be possible to adjust the JIF to provide a more reliable indication of a journal's impact.