Biomedical Journals: Scientific Quality, Reputation, and Impact Factor

The journal impact factor is a systematic and objective index of journal prestige that is commonly used by researchers in deciding where to submit their manuscripts for publication and by research administrators and governing bodies when evaluating researchers and their work. Journal impact factors, which indicate how often the average article published in a journal is cited in other journals, are calculated and reported annually through Clarivate Analytics' Journal Citation Reports database. Despite receiving heavy criticism and the growing presence of alternative metrics, the impact factor remains the most recognized measure of journal impact on the scientific and medical community. In addition to characterizing the journal impact factor and alternative journal metrics, this chapter considers three main caveats to interpreting the impact factor: (i) Impact factors should not be compared across different disciplines; (ii) impact factors should not be used to evaluate individual journal articles; and (iii) impact factors should not be used to evaluate researchers. Because a preoccupation with journal impact factors can potentially skew or hinder scientific progress, researchers and their employers and funders should consider the impact factor as only one indicator of journal reputation and seek to value high-quality research and the advancement of knowledge over publishing in prestigious journals.