Hunt, GE; Cleary, M; Walter, G. 2010. Psychiatry and the Hirsch h-index: The Relationship Between Journal Impact Factors and Accrued Citations. HARVARD REVIEW OF PSYCHIATRY 18 (4): 207-219

[Eugene Garfield]

Hunt, GE; Cleary, M; Walter, G. 2010. Psychiatry and the Hirsch h-index: The 
Relationship Between Journal Impact Factors and Accrued Citations. HARVARD 
REVIEW OF PSYCHIATRY 18 (4): 207-219.

Author Full Name(s): Hunt, Glenn E.; Cleary, Michelle; Walter, Garry
Language: English
Document Type: Review

Author Keywords: citations; h-index; journal impact factor; psychiatry journals
KeyWords Plus: WEB-OF-SCIENCE; STANDARD BIBLIOMETRIC MEASURES; 
GOOGLE-SCHOLAR; INDICATORS; SCOPUS; PUBLICATION; RESEARCHERS; 
SCIENTISTS; QUALITY; AUTHORS

Abstract: There is considerable debate on the use and abuse of journal impact 
factors and on selecting the most appropriate indicator to assess research 
outcome for an individual or group of scientists. Internet searches using Web of 
Science and Scopus were conducted to retrieve citation data for an individual 
in order to calculate nine variants of Hirsch's h-index. Citations to articles 
published in a wide range of psychiatric journals in the periods 1995-99 and 
2000-05 were analyzed using Web of Science. Comparisons were made 
between journal impact factor, h-index of citations from publication to 2008, 
and the proportion of articles cited at least 30 or 50 times. For up to 14 years 
post-publication, there was a strong positive relationship between journal 
impact factor and h-index for citations received. Journal impact factor was also 
compared to the percentage of articles cited at least 30 or 50 times a 
comparison that showed wide variations between journals with similar impact 
factors. This study found that 40%-50% of the articles published in the top ten 
psychiatry journals ranked by impact factor acquire 30 to 50 citations within 
ten to fifteen years. Despite certain flaws and weaknesses, the h-index 
provides a better way to assess long-term performance of articles or authors 
than using a journal's impact factor, and it provides an alternative way to 
assess a journal's long-term ranking. (HARV REV PSYCHIATRY 2010;18:207-
219.)

Addresses: [Hunt, Glenn E.] Concord Hosp, Res Unit, Sydney SW Area, Mental 
Hlth Serv, Concord, NSW 2139, Australia; [Hunt, Glenn E.; Walter, Garry] Univ 
Sydney, Discipline Psychiat, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; [Cleary, Michelle] 
Univ Western Sydney, Sch Nursing & Midwifery, Penrith, NSW 1797, Australia; 
[Walter, Garry] No Sydney Cent Coast Hlth, Child & Adolescent Mental Hlth 
Serv, Sydney, NSW, Australia

Reprint Address: Hunt, GE, Concord Hosp, Res Unit, Sydney SW Area, Mental 
Hlth Serv, Hosp Rd, Concord, NSW 2139, Australia.

E-mail Address: Glenn.hunt at sydney.edu.au
ISSN: 1067-3229
DOI: 10.3109/10673229.2010.493742
URL: 
http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/apl/harrev/2010/00000018/00000004
/art00001