Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2001 14:18:05 -0400
From: David Goodman <dgoodman@Princeton.EDU>
Subject: Re: Journal Impact Factor (Pency Murphy)

It is an excellent tool (we use JCR on the Web) , provided that:
1. It is only used to compare journals in the same field. Using it to make as
single list across disparate fields is abuse of the system. Some fields have
very high impact factors because they  cite only the most recent work, some
have low counts because of the long time period over which use accumulates.
2. Account is taken of journals that people read, but don't make references
to, like Scientific American or New Scientist.
3. Attention is paid to local interests and local needs.

An even better way is to count the references your own people cite. This can
be done only with the Dialog version, and only if you have a distinctive
address.

Anyway, you are probably not looking for citations only, but citations per
dollar (or euro, etc).
You should be buying value, not bulk.

>
> Date: Mon, 26 Feb 2001 09:45:24 -0600
> From: Pency Murphy <Pency.Murphy@ALCONLABS.COM>
> Subject: Journal Impact Factor
>
> Good morning. I'd like to know if anyone is using the journal impact factor
> as a primary tool for the selection of journals? If so, where are you
> getting your information and do you feel it is an accurate and effective way
> to select journals?  Thank you for your help.
>
> Pency Murphy
> Alcon Research, Ltd.

--
David Goodman
Biology Librarian
and Co-chair, Electronic Journals Task force
Princeton University Library
Princeton, NJ 08544-0001
phone: 609-258-3235
fax: 609-258-2627
e-mail: dgoodman@princeton.edu