Origins of measures of journal impact: Historical contingencies and their consequences on current use (Article, English),Archambault, E; Lariviere, V,PROCEEDINGS OF ISSI 2007: 11TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE ISSI, VOLS I AND II. 2007. p.45-51

[Eugene Garfield]

Email address: eric.archambault at science-metrix.com

Author(s): Archambault, E (Archambault, Eric); Lariviere, V (Lariviere, 
Vincent) 

Title: Origins of measures of journal impact: Historical contingencies and 
their consequences on current use 

Editor(s): TorresSalinas, D; Moed, HF
 
Source: PROCEEDINGS OF ISSI 2007: 11TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE 
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR SCIENTOMETRICS AND INFORMETRICS, VOLS I AND II 
45-51, 2007 

Language: English 
Document Type: Article 

Cited Reference Count: 32 

Conference Title: 11th International Conference of the International-
Society-for-Scientrometrics-and-Informetrics 

Conference Date: JUN 25-27, 2007 

Conference Location: Madrid, SPAIN 

Conference Sponsors: Int Soc Scientrometr & Informetr, CSIC, Minist Educ & 
Ciencia, FECYT, Comunidad Madrid, Eugene Garfield Fdn, Thomson Sci, 
Elsevier, Journal Informetr, Scopus, Ayuntamiento Madrid, Sci Metrix, Univ 
Carlos III Madrid 

Author Keywords: journal impact factor; history; contingencies
 
KeyWords Plus: SUBJECT CATEGORIES; SCIENCE; PERFORMANCE 

Abstract: This paper examines the genesis of journal impact measures and 
how their evolution culminated in the journal impact factor (JIF) produced 
by the Institute for Scientific Information. The paper shows how the form 
of the JIF, which is the result of historically contingent choices rather 
than a carefully chosen and tested set of features, affected its 
subsequent use, misuse, and manipulation by researchers, journal editors, 
and bibliometricians. 

Addresses: Science Metrix, Montreal, PQ H2H 2B5 Canada.
 
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Publisher Name: INT SOC SCIENTOMETRICS & INFORMETRICS-ISSI 
Publisher Address: KATHOLIEKE UNIV LEUVEN, FACULTEIT E T E W, DEKENSTRAAT 
2, LEUVEN, B-3000, BELGIUM