Bensman, SJ Distributional differences of the Impact Factor in the sciences versus the social sciences: An analysis of the probabilistic structure of the 2005 Journal Citation Reports JASIST, 59 (9): 1366-1382 JUL 2008

[Eugene Garfield]

E-mail Address: notsjb at lsu.edu 

Author(s): Bensman, SJ (Bensman, Stephen J.) 

Title: Distributional differences of the Impact Factor in the sciences 
versus the social sciences: An analysis of the probabilistic structure of 
the 2005 Journal Citation Reports
 
Source: JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR INFORMATION SCIENCE AND 
TECHNOLOGY, 59 (9): 1366-1382 JUL 2008 

Language: English 

Document Type: Article 

Keywords Plus: LIBRARY; MARKET 

Abstract: This paper examines the probability structure of the 2005 
Science Citation Index (SCI) and Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) 
Journal Citation Reports (JCR) by analyzing the Impact Factor 
distributions of their journals. The distribution of the SCI journals 
corresponded with a distribution generally modeled by the negative 
binomial distribution, whereas the SSCI distribution fit the Poisson 
distribution modeling random, rare events. Both Impact Factor 
distributions were positively skewed-the SCI much more so than the SSCI-
indicating excess variance. One of the causes of this excess variance was 
that the journals highest in the Impact Factor in both JCRs tended to 
class in subject categories well funded by the National Institutes of 
Health. The main reason for the SCI Impact Factor distribution being more 
skewed than the SSCI one was that review journals defining disciplinary 
paradigms play a much more important role in the sciences than in the 
social sciences. 

Addresses: Louisiana State Univ, LSU Lib, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA 

Reprint Address: Bensman, SJ, Louisiana State Univ, LSU Lib, Baton Rouge, 
LA 70803 USA. 

E-mail Address: notsjb at lsu.edu 

Cited Reference Count: 60 

Times Cited: 0 

Publisher: JOHN WILEY & SONS INC 

Publisher Address: 111 RIVER ST, HOBOKEN, NJ 07030 USA 

ISSN: 1532-2882 

DOI: 10.1002/asi.20810 

29-char Source Abbrev.: J AM SOC INF SCI TECHNOL 

ISO Source Abbrev.: J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci. Technol. 

Source Item Page Count: 17 

Subject Category: Computer Science, Information Systems; Information 
Science & Library Science 

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