ABS:Coleman, Impact factors: Use and abuse in biomedical research

[Gretchen Whitney]

Author(s):  Coleman R
Title:  Impact factors: Use and abuse in biomedical research
Source:  ANATOMICAL RECORD 1999, Vol 257, Iss 2, pp 54-57
Addresses:  Coleman R, Technion Israel Inst Technol, Bruce Rappaport Fac
Med, Dept Anat & Cell Biol, POB 9649, IL-31096 Haifa, Israel.
Technion Israel Inst Technol, Bruce Rappaport Fac Med, Dept Anat & Cell
Biol, IL-31096 Haifa, Israel.

Abstract:  Impact factors are increasingly being used as measures in the
process of academic evaluation; however, the pitfalls associated with such
use of impact factors are not always appreciated. Impact factors have
limited use as criteria in determining the quality of scientific research.
Classical anatomists may be actively discriminated against if journal
impact factors are used as measures of scientific merit in comparison with
colleagues in more popular or faster-moving disciplines such as molecular
biology. Research evaluation based on citation rates and journal impact
factors is inappropriate, unfair, and an increasing source of frustration.

(C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Source item page count:  4
Publication Date:  APR 15
IDS No.:  192NV
29-char source abbrev:  ANAT REC

c. ISI, Reprinted with permission
Please visit their website at www.isinet.com


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Gretchen Whitney, PhD                                     tel 423.974.7919
School of Information Sciences                            fax 423.974.4967
University of Tennessee, Knoxville TN 37996 USA           gwhitney at utk.edu
http://web.utk.edu/~gwhitney/
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SIGMETRICS:http://web.utk.edu/~gwhitney/sigmetrics.html
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