Citrome L "Impact Factor? Shmimpact Factor! The Journal Impact Factor, Modern Day Literature Searching, and the Publication Process" Psychiatry 2007;4(5):54-57

[Eugene Garfield]

TITLE : Impact Factor? Shmimpact Factor! The Journal Impact Factor, Modern 
Day Literature Searching, and the Publication Process

AUTHOR : Leslie Citrome, MD, MPH  

AUTHOR AFFILIATION: Dr. Citrome is Professor of Psychiatry, New York 
University School of Medicine, and Director, Clinical Research and 
Evaluation Facility, Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, 
Orangeburg, New York 

SOURCE : Psychiatry 2007;4(5):54-57  

Abstract 

The journal impact factor is a measure of the citability of articles 
published in that journal—the more citations generated, the more important 
that article is considered to be, and as a consequence the prestige of the 
journal is enhanced. The impact factor is not without controversy, and it 
can be manipulated. It no longer dominates the choices of journals to 
search for information. Online search engines, such as PubMed, can locate 
articles of interest in seconds across journals regardless of high or low 
impact factors. Editors desiring to increase their influence will need to 
focus on a fast and friendly submission and review process, early online 
and speedy print publication, and encourage the rapid turnaround of high-
quality peer reviews. Authors desiring to have their results known to the 
world have never had it so good—the internet permits anyone with computer 
access to find the author’s work.

Key Words: journal impact factor, peer review, publication, PubMed, 
searching 

Psychiatry 2007;4(5):54-57