1. What Is Impact Factor?

The Impact Factor is a measure of the frequency with which the average article in a journal has been cited in a particular year. It is used to evaluate the relative importance of a journal within its field.

2. How Does The Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard Impact Factor formula:

Where:

• \( \text{Citations} \) — Number of citations received by articles published in the journal during the specified period
• \( \text{Citable Articles} \) — Number of citable articles published in the journal during the same period

Explanation: The Impact Factor represents the average number of citations per published article, providing a quantitative measure of a journal's influence.

3. Importance Of Impact Factor

Details: Impact Factor is widely used by researchers, librarians, and institutions to assess journal quality, make publication decisions, and evaluate research output. It helps in comparing journals within the same field.

4. Using The Calculator

Tips: Enter the total number of citations and citable articles for the specified time period. Citations must be non-negative, and citable articles must be greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What time period is used for Impact Factor calculation?
A: Typically, a 2-year period is used, where citations in year Y to articles published in years Y-1 and Y-2 are divided by the number of citable articles published in years Y-1 and Y-2.

Q2: What is considered a good Impact Factor?
A: This varies by field. In general, Impact Factors above 10 are considered excellent, 5-10 are very good, 3-5 are good, and below 3 are average to low, but field-specific benchmarks should be considered.

Q3: What are the limitations of Impact Factor?
A: It can be influenced by review articles (which get more citations), varies across disciplines, doesn't measure individual article quality, and can be manipulated by editorial practices.

Q4: How does Impact Factor differ from other metrics?
A: Unlike CiteScore (which uses 3-year window) or SJR (which considers prestige), Impact Factor uses a 2-year window and is citation-based without accounting for citation quality.

Q5: Should Impact Factor be the sole criterion for journal evaluation?
A: No, it should be used alongside other metrics like Eigenfactor, h-index, acceptance rates, and qualitative assessments of editorial board and peer review process.