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Reliability-based citation impact factor and the manipulation of impact factor

Author

Listed:
  • Guang Yu

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Dong-Hui Yang

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

  • Wang Liang

    (Harbin Institute of Technology)

Abstract

According to the definition of reliability-based citation impact factor (R-impact factor) proposed by KUO & RUPE and the cumulative citation age distribution model, a mathematical expression of the relationship between R-impact factor and impact factor is established in this paper. By simulation of the change processes of the R-impact factor and impact factor in the manipulation process of the impact factor, it is found that the effect of manipulation can be partly corrected by the R-impact factor in some cases. Based on the Journal Citation Report database, impact factors of 4 normal journals and 4 manipulated journals were collected. The journals’ R-impact factors and self-cited rates in the previous two years were calculated for each year during the period 2000 to 2007, and various characteristics influenced by the manipulation were analyzed. We find that the R-impact factor has greater fairness than the impact factor for journals with relatively short cited half-lives. Finally, some issues about using the R-impact factor as a measure for evaluating scientific journals are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Guang Yu & Dong-Hui Yang & Wang Liang, 2010. "Reliability-based citation impact factor and the manipulation of impact factor," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 83(1), pages 259-270, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:83:y:2010:i:1:d:10.1007_s11192-009-0083-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-009-0083-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Guang Yu & Liang Wang, 2007. "The self-cited rate of scientific journals and the manipulation of their impact factors," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 73(3), pages 321-330, December.
    2. Leo Egghe & Ronald Rousseau, 2000. "The influence of publication delays on the observed aging distribution of scientific literature," Journal of the American Society for Information Science, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 51(2), pages 158-165.
    3. Jochen Krauss, 2007. "Journal self-citation rates in ecological sciences," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 73(1), pages 79-89, October.
    4. Guang Yu & Xiao-Hong Wang & Da-Ren Yu, 2005. "The influence of publication delays on impact factors," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 64(2), pages 235-246, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Juan Miguel Campanario & William Cabos, 2014. "The effect of additional citations in the stability of Journal Citation Report categories," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 98(2), pages 1113-1130, February.
    2. Liu, Xuan Zhen & Fang, Hui, 2020. "A comparison among citation-based journal indicators and their relative changes with time," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 14(1).
    3. Juan Miguel Campanario, 2011. "Empirical study of journal impact factors obtained using the classical two-year citation window versus a five-year citation window," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 87(1), pages 189-204, April.
    4. Stefan N. Groesser, 2012. "Dynamics of Journal Impact Factors," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(6), pages 624-644, November.
    5. Lei Lei & Yunmei Sun, 2020. "Should highly cited items be excluded in impact factor calculation? The effect of review articles on journal impact factor," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 122(3), pages 1697-1706, March.

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