Johan Bollen, Marko A. Rodriguez, and Herbert Van de Sompel "Journal Status" arXiv:cs.GL/0601030 v1 9 Jan 2006

[Loet Leydesdorff]

> What's not to laugh about it?  There probably is no better
> way to do it.
>
> SB

Let me then repeat the problem: comparisons in terms of impact factors,
etc., are valid only within cognitive domains with common citation and
publication practices. In other words, citation graphs among journals have
different densities and this affects the impact factors in the corresponding
domains. For example, impact factors of immunology journals are much higher
than impact factors of toxicology journals.

The delineation of the sets in which one can compare thus matters. We know
that this delineation cannot be perfect, but it matters how good they are.
Increasingly evaluation commission and scientometric researchers seem to
assume that the ISI subject categories are valid delineation of domains
within which one can make comparisons. The article by Bollen et al. was a
point in case.

With best wishes,


Loet
________________________________
Loet Leydesdorff
Amsterdam School of Communications Research (ASCoR),
Kloveniersburgwal 48, 1012 CX Amsterdam.
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