Simple arithmetic versus intuitive understanding:The case of the impact factor

Rousseau, Ronald and Leydesdorff, Loet Simple arithmetic versus intuitive understanding:The case of the impact factor. ISSI Newsletter, 2011, vol. 7, n. 1, pp. 10-14. [Journal article (Paginated)]

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English abstract

We show that as a consequence of basic properties of elementary arithmetic journal impact factors show a counterintuitive behaviour with respect to adding non-cited articles. Synchronous as well as diachronous journal impact factors are affected. Our findings provide a rationale for not taking uncitable publications into account in impact factor calculations, at least if these items are truly uncitable.

Item type: Journal article (Paginated)
Keywords: journal impact factor; arithmetic ; counter-intuitive behaviour
Subjects: B. Information use and sociology of information > BB. Bibliometric methods
Depositing user: Ronald Rousseau
Date deposited: 31 Mar 2011
Last modified: 02 Oct 2014 12:18
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10760/15478

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