Vaikutuskertoimet

Vaikutuskertoimet, or impact factors, are a type of bibliometric indicator used to measure the relative importance of a scientific journal. They are calculated by Clarivate Analytics annually as part of their Journal Citation Reports (JCR). The impact factor for a journal is determined by dividing the number of citations to articles published in that journal during the previous two years by the total number of citable items (usually articles and reviews) published in the same two-year period.

The underlying principle is that highly cited journals are likely to contain more influential research. This makes the impact factor a widely used, though sometimes controversial, metric for evaluating the prestige and perceived quality of academic journals. Researchers, librarians, and institutions often use impact factors to guide their decisions regarding journal selection for publication and subscription.

However, the impact factor has several limitations. It can be influenced by the type of articles published, with review articles often attracting more citations than original research. It does not account for the quality of individual articles within a journal, nor does it reflect the impact of research in all fields equally. Furthermore, the impact factor can be subject to manipulation through self-citation or citation cartels. Despite these criticisms, it remains a prominent measure in academic publishing.