Habibzadeh, F (Habibzadeh, Farrokh); Yadollahie, M (Yadollahie, Mahboobeh) Journal weighted impact factor: A proposal JOURNAL OF INFORMETRICS, 2 (2): 164-172 APR 2008

[Eugene Garfield]

E-mail Address: habibzaf at ams.ac.ir; habibzaf at yahoo.com 

Author(s): Habibzadeh, F (Habibzadeh, Farrokh); Yadollahie, M (Yadollahie, 
Mahboobeh) 

Title: Journal weighted impact factor: A proposal 

Source: JOURNAL OF INFORMETRICS, 2 (2): 164-172 APR 2008 


Language: English 

Document Type: Article 

Author Keywords: journal impact factor; scientometrics; citation analysis 

Abstract: The impact factor of a journal reflects the frequency with which 
the journal's articles are cited. It is the best available measure of 
journal quality. For calculation of impact factor, we just count the 
number of citations, no matter howprestigious the citing journal is. We 
think that impact factor as a measure of journal quality, may be improved 
if in its calculation, we not only take into account the number of 
citations, but also incorporate a factor reflecting the prestige of the 
citing journals relative to the cited journal. In calculation of this 
proposed "weighted impact factor," each citation has a coefficient 
(weight) the value of which is 1 if the citing journal is as prestigious 
as the cited journal; is > 1 if the citing journal is more prestigious 
than the cited journal; and is < 1 if the citing journal has a lower 
standing than the cited journal. In this way, journals receiving many 
citations from prestigious journals are considered prestigious themselves 
and those cited by low-status journals seek little credit. By considering 
both the number of citations and the prestige of the citing journals, we 
expect the weighted impact factor be a better scientometrics measure of 
journal quality. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 

Addresses: Shiraz NIOC Med Environm & Res Ctr, Shiraz 71955, Iran 

Reprint Address: Habibzadeh, F, Shiraz NIOC Med Environm & Res Ctr, POB 
71955-575, Shiraz 71955, Iran. 

Cited Reference Count: 11 

Times Cited: 0 

Publisher: ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV 

Publisher Address: PO BOX 211, 1000 AE AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS 

ISSN: 1751-1577 

29-char Source Abbrev.: J INFORMETR 

ISO Source Abbrev.: J. Informetr. 

Source Item Page Count: 9 

Subject Category: Information Science & Library Science 

ISI Document Delivery No.: 296TK 

BOLLEN J
Journal status 
SCIENTOMETRICS 69 : 669 2006 

CASON H
PSYCHOL BULL 33 : 95 1936 

GARFIELD E
CITATION INDEXES FOR SCIENCE - NEW DIMENSION IN DOCUMENTATION THROUGH 
ASSOCIATION OF IDEAS
SCIENCE 122 : 108 1955 

GROSS PLK
SCIENCE 66 : 385 1927 

KOCHEN M
PRINCIPLES INFORM RE : 1974 

LOWY C
Impact factor limits funding 
LANCET 350 : 1035 1997 

MOED HF
Citation analysis of scientific journals and journal impact measures 
CURRENT SCIENCE 89 : 1990 2005 

PINSKI G
CITATION INFLUENCE FOR JOURNAL AGGREGATES OF SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS - 
THEORY, WITH APPLICATION TO LITERATURE OF PHYSICS
INFORMATION PROCESSING & MANAGEMENT 12 : 297 1976 

ROGERS I
GOOGLE PAGERANK ALGO : 2006 

SAHA S
Impact factor: a valid measure of journal quality? 
JOURNAL OF THE MEDICAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION 91 : 42 2003 

SEGLEN PO
Why the impact factor of journals should not be used for evaluating 
research 
BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL 314 : 498 1997