Quick guide to finding journal impact factors
Bibliometric databases also calculate impact factors for journals.
A journal impact factor is, over a given specified period for the journal, the number of citation events for papers in the journal divided by the number of papers published in the journal.
The impact factor is not in itself a universal indicator of journal quality, and is most valuable when used in conjunction with other forms of publication analysis. Other ways to determine journal quality (particularly in fields that are not in a science disciplines) include peer review, determining indexing/abstract distribution and reviewing rejection rates etc.
There are also other measures, including Journal Immediacy Index and Journal Cited Half-Life.
You can find journal impact factors as follows:
- Go to: http://www.swin.edu.au/lib/database/webofknowledge.htm
- Click on the link to Journal Citation Reports under Go to Web of Knowledge. If you are using a computer from home or work you will need to log in following the instructions on screen.
- Select a JCR edition and year, specify 'View a group of journals by Subject Category', then click SUBMIT
- Select one or more categories i.e. ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSICS then click on SUBMIT
- Scan for the Abbreviated Journal Title in the pages listed to find the Impact Factor for the selected year.
Author: Helen Wolff / Nyssa Parkes (nparkes@swin.edu.au)