1. What is Journal Impact Factor?

Journal Impact Factor (IF) is a measure of the frequency with which the average article in a journal has been cited in a particular year. It is used to evaluate the relative importance of a journal within its field.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Impact Factor equation:

Where:

• \( C \) — Number of citations in current year to articles published in previous two years
• \( A \) — Number of citable articles published in previous two years
• \( IF \) — Impact Factor (dimensionless)

Explanation: The equation calculates how many times, on average, articles from the journal published in the previous two years have been cited in the current year.

3. Importance of Impact Factor

Details: Impact Factor is widely used by researchers, librarians, and publishers to assess journal quality, make publication decisions, and evaluate research performance. Higher impact factors generally indicate greater journal prestige.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of citations received in the current year for articles published in the previous two years, and the total number of citable articles published in those two years. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is considered a good Impact Factor?
A: This varies by field. In some fields, IF of 2-3 is excellent, while in others top journals may have IF above 10. Compare within your specific research area.

Q2: How often is Impact Factor calculated?
A: Journal Impact Factors are typically calculated and published annually by Clarivate Analytics in their Journal Citation Reports.

Q3: What are the limitations of Impact Factor?
A: It can be influenced by journal self-citations, varies across disciplines, doesn't reflect individual article quality, and may favor review journals over original research.

Q4: Can Impact Factor be manipulated?
A: Yes, through practices like coercive citation, publishing more review articles, or reducing the number of citable items while maintaining citations.

Q5: Are there alternatives to Impact Factor?
A: Yes, alternatives include CiteScore, SCImago Journal Rank, h-index, Eigenfactor, and Altmetrics that provide different perspectives on journal impact.