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So, what if a journal is both at the ‘top’ and ‘bottom’: reply to Mason and Singh

Author

Listed:
  • Jeremiah Joven Joaquin

    (De La Salle University)

  • Raymond R. Tan

    (De La Salle University
    De La Salle University)

  • Hazel T. Biana

    (De La Salle University)

Abstract

In a recent paper in this journal, Mason and Singh (Scientometrics 127:3683–3694, 2022) argue that since there are cases where a research paper is published in an academic journal that is ‘top-ranked’ in one subject category (or research area) but ‘bottom-ranked’ in another (based on some citation-based metric such as SCImago Journal Rankings (SJR) or Journal Citation Reports (JCR)), it follows that it is illogical to use such rankings as a proxy for research quality, impact, and prestige. They conclude that using such rankings for academic hiring, tenure, promotion, and funding is likewise illogical. In this discussion note, we argue that while their premise is true, their conclusion is a non sequitur.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeremiah Joven Joaquin & Raymond R. Tan & Hazel T. Biana, 2023. "So, what if a journal is both at the ‘top’ and ‘bottom’: reply to Mason and Singh," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 128(10), pages 5859-5863, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:128:y:2023:i:10:d:10.1007_s11192-023-04809-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-023-04809-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mason, Shannon & Merga, Margaret K. & González Canché, Manuel S. & Mat Roni, Saiyidi, 2021. "The internationality of published higher education scholarship: How do the ‘top’ journals compare?," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 15(2).
    2. Meredith T Niles & Lesley A Schimanski & Erin C McKiernan & Juan Pablo Alperin, 2020. "Why we publish where we do: Faculty publishing values and their relationship to review, promotion and tenure expectations," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(3), pages 1-15, March.
    3. Guerrero-Bote, Vicente P. & Moya-Anegón, Félix, 2012. "A further step forward in measuring journals’ scientific prestige: The SJR2 indicator," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 6(4), pages 674-688.
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