Frandsen TF "Journal diffusion factors - a measure of diffusion?" ASLIB Proceedings 56(1): 5-11, 2004

[Eugene Garfield]

Tove Faber Frandsen : k99tofa at db.dk

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TITLE:          Journal diffusion factors - a measure of diffusion?
                (Article, English)
AUTHOR:         Frandsen, TF
SOURCE:         ASLIB PROCEEDINGS 56 (1). 2004. p.5-11 EMERALD GROUP
                PUBLISHING LIMITED, BRADFORD

SEARCH TERM(S):  GARFIELD E  rauth; ASLIB*  rwork; J INFORM SCI*  rwork;
                 SCIENTOMETR*  rwork; JOURNAL  item_title;
                 ASLIB PROC  source_abbrev_20;
                 GARFIELD E         LIBRI                  48:67    1998

KEYWORDS:       measurement; journal publishers; difffusion; research
                methods; quality indicators

ABSTRACT:       This paper shows that the measure of diffusion introduced
by Ian Rowlands called the journal diffusion factor (JDF) is highly
negatively correlated with the number of citations, leading highly cited
journals to get a low JDF, whereas less cited journals get a high JDF.
This property reduces the utility of the JDF as a tool for evaluation of
research influence. The paper presents a new definition of the JDF in
order to attempt to improve it. This new JDF corrects the strong
correlation with the number cited, but has a strongly statistically
positive correlation with journal impact factors (JIF). However, the new
JDF may still be used as an evaluation tool since, for journals with
similar JIF values, the new JDF can be used to differentiate between
them. Thereby, journal evaluation will be based on more than one aspect
of journal influence when assessing journal influence with similar
journal impact factor values.

AUTHOR ADDRESS: TF Frandsen, Royal Sch Lib & Informat Sci, Copenhagen,
                Denmark