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
garfield at CODEX.CIS.UPENN.EDU
Sun Aug 29 11:00:50 EDT 2010
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
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