Simple arithmetic versus intuitive understanding: the case of the impact factor
| Authors |
|
|---|---|
| Publication date | 2011 |
| Journal | ISSI Newsletter |
| Volume | Issue number | 7 | 1 |
| Pages (from-to) | 10-14 |
| Organisations |
|
| Abstract | We discuss the "rate of averages" versus the "average of rates" in the case of the impact factor. Synchronous as well as diachronous journal impact factors are sensitive to adding non-cited articles (to the denominator). This is a consequence of basic properties of elementary arithmetic. Our findings provide a rationale for not taking uncitable publications into account in impact factor calculations, at least if these items are truly uncitable, that is, are never cited. |
| Document type | Article |
| Language | English |
| Published at | http://www.leydesdorff.net/issi11/if.pdf |
| Permalink to this page | |
