Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32944018›Full record

ArticleThe journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases2020

Evaluating Journal Impact Factor: a systematic survey of the pros and cons, and overview of alternative measures.

Eugene Mech, Muhammad Muneeb Ahmed, Edward Tamale, Matthew Holek, Guowei Li, Lehana Thabane

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in The journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. [Predatory journals: What are they and how to avoid them?]Revista medica del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social · 2024
    Article
  8. Article
  9. Review
  10. Article
  11. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Eugene MechDepartment of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Muhammad Muneeb AhmedDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-4208-6247
Edward TamaleDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Matthew HolekDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Guowei LiDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Lehana ThabaneDepartment of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-0355-9734

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundJournal Impact Factor (JIF) has several intrinsic flaws, which highlight its inability to adequately measure citation distributions or indicate journal quality. Despite these flaws, JIF is still widely used within the academic community, resulting in the propagation of potentially misleading information. A critical review of the usefulness of JIF is needed including an overview of the literature to identify viable alternative metrics. The objectives of this study are:

methodsThree separate literature search strategies using MEDLINE and Web of Science were completed to address the three study objectives. Each search was completed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Results were compiled in tabular format and analyzed based on reporting frequency.

resultsFor objective

conclusionJIF has many disadvantages and is applied beyond its original intent, leading to inaccurate information. Several metrics have been identified to improve on certain disadvantages of JIF. Integrated Impact Indicator (I3) shows great promise as an alternative to JIF. However, further scientometric analysis is needed to assess its properties.

Indexed as

Alternative metricsBibliometricsCitations and impactJournal Impact Factor

Identifiers

PMID32944018
PMCPMC7458102

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.