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Journal Impact Factors for evaluating scientific performance: use of h-like indicators

Author

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  • Sebastian K. Boell

    (University of New South Wales)

  • Concepción S. Wilson

    (University of New South Wales)

Abstract

This article introduces the Impact Factor squared or IF2-index, an h-like indicator of research performance. This indicator reflects the degree to which large entities such as countries and/or their states participate in top-level research in a field or subfield. The IF2-index uses the Journal Impact Factor (JIF) of research publications instead of the number of citations. This concept is applied to other h-type indexes and their results compared to the IF2-index. These JIF-based indexes are then used to assess the overall performance of cancer research in Australia and its states over 8 years from 1999 to 2006. The IF2-index has three advantages when evaluating larger research units: firstly, it provides a stable value that does not change over time, reflecting the degree to which a research unit participated in top-level research in a given year; secondly, it can be calculated closely approximating the publication date of yearly datasets; and finally, it provides an additional dimension when a full article-based citation analysis is not feasible. As the index reflects the degree of participation in top-level research it may favor larger units when units of different sizes are compared.

Suggested Citation

  • Sebastian K. Boell & Concepción S. Wilson, 2010. "Journal Impact Factors for evaluating scientific performance: use of h-like indicators," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 82(3), pages 613-626, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:82:y:2010:i:3:d:10.1007_s11192-010-0175-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-010-0175-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. D. Gnana Bharathi, 2011. "Methodology for the evaluation of scientific journals: Aggregated Citations of Cited Articles," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 86(3), pages 563-574, March.
    2. Eduardo Araujo Oliveira & Roberto Peicots-Filho & Daniella Reis Martelli & Isabel Gomes Quirino & Maria Christina Lopes Oliveira & Mariana Guerra Duarte & Sergio Veloso Pinheiro & Enrico Antonio Colos, 2013. "Is there a correlation between journal impact factor and researchers’ performance? A study comprising the fields of clinical nephrology and neurosciences," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 97(2), pages 149-160, November.
    3. William Cabos & Juan Miguel Campanario, 2018. "Exploring the Hjif-Index, an Analogue to the H-Like Index for Journal Impact Factors," Publications, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-11, April.
    4. repec:jes:wpaper:y:2012:v:4:p:636-647 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Claus-Christian Carbon, 2011. "The Carbon_h-Factor: Predicting Individuals' Research Impact at Early Stages of Their Career," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(12), pages 1-7, December.
    6. Eduardo A. Oliveira & Enrico A. Colosimo & Daniella R. Martelli & Isabel G. Quirino & Maria Christina L. Oliveira & Leonardo S. Lima & Ana Cristina Simões e Silva & Hercílio Martelli-Júnior, 2012. "Comparison of Brazilian researchers in clinical medicine: are criteria for ranking well-adjusted?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 90(2), pages 429-443, February.
    7. Carmen Anton & Nelu Florea & Silviu-Mihail Tiþã, 2012. "Comparison Of Scientific Socio-Economic Research Performances In Eastern European Universities," CES Working Papers, Centre for European Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, vol. 4(4), pages 636-647, December.

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