1. What is Impact Factor?

The Impact Factor (IF) 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 Impact Factor formula:

Where:

• \( Citations \) — Total number of citations received
• \( Citable\ Items \) — Total number of citable publications

Explanation: The Impact Factor represents the average number of citations per citable item published in the journal during the specified time period.

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 for funding and promotion purposes.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the total number of citations and citable items. Both values must be positive numbers, with citable items greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What time period does Impact Factor cover?
A: Typically, Impact Factor is calculated for a two-year period, though some metrics use different time frames.

Q2: What is considered a good Impact Factor?
A: This varies by field. In some disciplines, an IF of 2-3 is excellent, while in others, top journals may have IFs above 10.

Q3: Are there limitations to Impact Factor?
A: Yes, it can be influenced by citation practices in different fields, journal size, and article types. It should not be the sole metric for evaluation.

Q4: How often is Impact Factor updated?
A: Journal Impact Factors are typically updated annually by major indexing services like Clarivate Analytics.

Q5: What's the difference between IF and other metrics?
A: Other metrics include CiteScore, h-index, and Eigenfactor, each measuring different aspects of journal influence and citation impact.