impactfactor

The Impact Factor is a proprietary metric developed by Clarivate Analytics that reflects the relative importance of a journal within its field. It is calculated by dividing the number of citations received by articles published in that journal during the preceding two years by the total number of citable items published in the journal during the same period. For instance, a journal's Impact Factor for 2023 would be based on citations received in 2023 to articles published in 2021 and 2022, divided by the total number of citable articles published in 2021 and 2022.

The Impact Factor is often used as a proxy for the prestige and influence of a scholarly journal. It is widely employed by researchers, librarians, and institutions to evaluate journals for subscription, acquisition, and as a factor in academic promotion and tenure decisions. However, the metric has also faced significant criticism. Concerns include its potential for manipulation, its focus on short-term citation counts rather than long-term impact, and its tendency to favor certain fields or types of publications over others. Critics argue that it can oversimplify the complex landscape of scholarly communication and may not accurately reflect the true value of individual research papers.