Honekopp, J (Honekopp, Johannes); Kleber, J (Kleber, Janet) Sometimes the impact factor outshines the H index RETROVIROLOGY, 5: Art. No. 88 OCT 6 2008

[Eugene Garfield]

E-mail Address: johannes.honekopp at unn.ac.uk; janet.kleber at stud.uni-
erfurt.de

Author(s): Honekopp, J (Honekopp, Johannes); Kleber, J (Kleber, Janet) 

Title: Sometimes the impact factor outshines the H index 

Source: RETROVIROLOGY, 5: Art. No. 88 OCT 6 2008 

Language: English 

Document Type: Editorial Material 

Keywords Plus: PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS 

Abstract: Journal impact factor ( which reflects a particular journal's 
quality) and H index ( which reflects the number and quality of an 
author's publications) are two measures of research quality. It has been 
argued that the H index outperforms the impact factor for evaluation 
purposes. Using articles first-authored or last-authored by board members 
of Retrovirology, we show here that the reverse is true when the future 
success of an article is to be predicted. The H index proved unsuitable 
for this specific task because, surprisingly, an article's odds of 
becoming a 'hit' appear independent of the pre-eminence of its author. We 
discuss implications for the peer-review process. 

Addresses: [Honekopp, Johannes] Northumbria Univ, Dept Psychol, Newcastle 
Upon Tyne NE1 8ST, Tyne & Wear, England; [Kleber, Janet] Univ Erfurt, 
Erziehungswissensch Fak, Fachgebiet Psychol, D-99089 Erfurt, Germany 

Reprint Address: Honekopp, J, Northumbria Univ, Dept Psychol, Ellison Sq, 
Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 8ST, Tyne & Wear, England. 

E-mail Address: johannes.honekopp at unn.ac.uk; janet.kleber at stud.uni-
erfurt.de 

Cited Reference Count: 10 

Times Cited: 0 

Publisher: BIOMED CENTRAL LTD 

Publisher Address: CURRENT SCIENCE GROUP, MIDDLESEX HOUSE, 34-42 CLEVELAND 
ST, LONDON W1T 4LB, ENGLAND 

ISSN: 1742-4690 

DOI: 10.1186/1742-4690-5-88 

29-char Source Abbrev.: RETROVIROLOGY 

ISO Source Abbrev.: Retrovirology 

Source Item Page Count: 3 

Subject Category: Virology 

ISI Document Delivery No.: 365UB 

*TARM SOFTW
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