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Impact Factor Formula:
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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.
The calculator uses the Impact Factor formula:
Where:
Explanation: The Impact Factor provides a quantitative assessment of a journal's influence and is calculated by dividing the number of citations by the number of citable articles published in that journal.
Details: Impact Factor is widely used by researchers, librarians, and institutions to evaluate journal quality, make publication decisions, and assess research impact. Higher impact factors generally indicate greater journal prestige.
Tips: Enter the total number of citations and the number of citable articles. Both values must be positive numbers, with citable articles greater than zero.
Q1: What time period is used for Impact Factor calculation?
A: Typically, a 2-year window is used, where citations in the current year to articles published in the previous two years are counted.
Q2: What is considered a good Impact Factor?
A: This varies by field. In some disciplines, an IF of 2-3 might be excellent, while in others, top journals may have IFs above 10 or 20.
Q3: Are there limitations to Impact Factor?
A: Yes, it can be influenced by review articles (which get more citations), self-citations, and field-specific citation practices. It should not be the sole metric for evaluating research quality.
Q4: How often is Impact Factor updated?
A: Journal Impact Factors are typically updated annually by major citation databases like Web of Science and Scopus.
Q5: What is the difference between 2-year and 5-year Impact Factor?
A: 2-year IF uses citations from two previous years, while 5-year IF uses citations from five previous years, providing a longer-term perspective of journal impact.