English Translation of Buela-Casal G "Evaluating quality of articles and scientific journals.Proposal of weighted impact factor and a quality index?" is available.

[Eugene Garfield]

This paper is being re-posted to the list to inform you that the author has
very kindly provided an English translation  at :

http://www.psychologyinspain.com/content/full/2004/frame.asp?id=8006


E-MAIL:   G. Buela-Casal : gbuela at ugr.es




FULL TEXT OF THIS PAPER IN SPANISH IS AVAILABLE AT :
<http://www.psicothema.com/psicothema.asp?id=400>


Title   : Evaluating quality of articles and scientific journals.
          Proposal of weighted impact factor and a quality index?
Author  : Buela-Casal G
Journal : PSICOTHEMA 15 (1): 23-35 FEB 2003

 Document type: Article   Language: Spanish
 Cited References: 70     Times Cited: 0


Abstract:
The factor of impact and other bibliometric indices are currently used in
several countries to evaluate the type and quality of scientific production.
However, the impact factor (or prestige) rarely receives an accurate
interpretation. Available impact factors display a number of shortcomings:
they only refer to citations in the previous two or three years, and they do
not take into account the impact or prestige of the periodicals where
citations appear, so that every citation is given the same value, regardless
of the periodical where it appears. In order to overcome these limitations,
two indices are proposed: a mean impact factor of the journals where
citations appear (FIMRC) and a weighted impact factor (FIP). Additionally,
other useful indices are suggested for the analysis of interaction between
periodicals: a percentage of partial interaction of citations (PIPC), and a
percentage of mutual interaction among citations (PIMC). This paper explains
their details a procedures for their calculation. Several problem areas are
discussed, namely, peer review, the policy of publications, qualification of
referees, and assessment criteria. It is also argued that quality of studies
should not only be primarily evaluated in terms of the periodical where they
are published. Finally, an alternative is offered for the assessment of
quality of scientific articles and journals on three bases: what is to be
evaluated, who is to be an evaluator, and possible criteria for evaluation.
These considerations lead to a proposal for a quality index aside of impact
or prestige.

KeyWords Plus:
PSYCHOLOGY, SCIENCE

Addresses:
Buela-Casal G, Univ Granada, Fac Psicol, E-18071 Granada, Spain
Univ Granada, Fac Psicol, E-18071 Granada, Spain

Publisher:
COLEGIO OFICIAL DE PSICOLOGOS DE ASTURIAS, OVIEDO

IDS Number:
640AB

ISSN:
0214-9915