Nederhof AJ, Visser MS " Quantitative deconstruction of citation impact indicators - Waxing field impact but waning journal impact" JOURNAL OF DOCUMENTATION 60 (6): 658-672 2004

[Eugene Garfield]

A.J. NEDERHOF  :  NEDERHOF at CWTS.leidenuniv.nl
M.S. VISSER    :  VISSER at CWTS.leidenuniv.nl

Title: Quantitative deconstruction of citation impact indicators - Waxing
field impact but waning journal impact

Author(s): Nederhof AJ, Visser MS

Source: JOURNAL OF DOCUMENTATION 60 (6): 658-672 2004

Cited References: 11

Abstract:
In two case studies of research units, reference values used to benchmark
research performance appeared to show contradictory results: the average
citation level in the subfields (FCSm) increased world-wide, while the
citation level of the journals (JCSm) decreased, where concomitant changes
were expected. Explanations were sought in: a shift in preference of
document types; a change in publication preference for subfields; and
changes in journal coverage. Publishing in newly covered journals with a low
impact had a negative effect on impact ratios. However, the main factor
behind the increase in FCSm was the distribution of articles across the
five-year block periods that were studied. Publication in lower impact
journals produced a lagging JCSm. Actual values of JCSm, FCSm, and citations
per publication (CPP) values are not very informative either about research
performance, or about the development of impact over time in a certain
subfield with block indicators. Normalized citation impact indicators are
free from such effects and should be consulted primarily in research
performance assessments.

Addresses: Nederhof AJ (reprint author), Leiden Univ, Ctr Sci & Technol
Studies, CWTS, Leiden, Netherlands
Leiden Univ, Ctr Sci & Technol Studies, CWTS, Leiden, Netherlands

Publisher: EMERALD GROUP PUBLISHING LIMITED, 60/62 TOLLER LANE, BRADFORD BD8
9BY, W YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND

IDS Number: 872AF
ISSN: 0022-0418

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