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Metrics & Impact Core

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Journal Impact Factor (JIF) Information

Category: Journal Level

Definition: A metric that is defined as all citations to the journal in the current JCR year to items published in the previous two years, divided by the total number of scholarly items (these comprise articles, reviews, and proceedings papers) published in the journal in the previous two years.

Use Case: The JIF is useful in comparing the relative influence of journals within a discipline, as measured by citations.

Location: Journal Citation Reports (Web of Science)

Field Normalized?  No

Caveats: 

  • Only available for journals indexed in Web of Science.
  • Can be affected by self-citations within the journal.
  • Can be affected by a few highly cited articles within the journal.

Sample Statement: Of the 688 documents authored by Dr. Fauci that are indexed in Web of Science, 10 of them were published in The Lancet, which has a JIF of 60.4 and is the second highest of the 165 journals in the category of Medicine, General & Internal (InCites).

What that means: Dr. Fauci’s documents published in The Lancet in the most recent two years should receive on average 60.4 citations in the most recent year.

Additional Information and Resources Regarding Journal Impact Factor (JIF)