Category Archives: impact factor

On ‘lower impact’ publishing – it’s better than you might think.

Posted on 17 March 2018 by Sylvia McLain

Over the course of the last two or so years, I have had a number of personal issues to deal with. Family illnesses, the sudden death of my older brother and some other things (I will spare you the gory … Continue reading →

Posted in impact factor, scientific publishing | Comments Off on On ‘lower impact’ publishing – it’s better than you might think.

Pride and Prejudice and journal citation distributions

Posted on 6 July 2016 by Stephen

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a researcher in possession of interesting experimental results, must be in want of a journal with a high impact factor. It is also true – and widely understood – that journal impact factors … Continue reading →

Posted in Academic publishing, Citation distributions, impact factor, Open Access, scientific publishing | Comments Off on Pride and Prejudice and journal citation distributions

The Competitive Streak in Academia

Posted on 13 May 2016 by Athene Donald

Does being competitive necessarily mean foregoing kindness? In essence this was the question posed to Uta Frith at the end of her public conversation with me last week (you can hear the whole conversation here). Uta didn’t give a completely … Continue reading →

Posted in Carol Robinson, impact factor, Mary Beard, Meaning of Success, Science Culture, Uta Frith, Women in science | Comments Off on The Competitive Streak in Academia

Metrics, Fulfilment and Career Trajectories

Posted on 4 July 2014 by Athene Donald

“More effort should be done on understanding people paths. We are too much focused on processes and structures.” JP Bourguignon #esof2014 I was struck by this quote I saw on Twitter from the ERC President Jean-Pierre Bourguignon, because of course … Continue reading →

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The REF: what is the measure of success?

Posted on 5 June 2014 by Stephen

Science has been extraordinarily successful at taking the measure of the world, but paradoxically the world finds it extraordinarily difficult to take the measure of science — or any type of scholarship for that matter. That is not for want … Continue reading →

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Impact factors are clouding our judgement

Posted on 17 October 2013 by Stephen

Nature has an interesting news feature this week on impact factors. Eugenie Samuel Reich’s article — part of a special supplement covering various aspects of the rather ill-defined notion of impact — explores whether publication in journals such as Nature or Science is … Continue reading →

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Am I having impact?

Posted on 20 May 2013 by Sylvia McLain

For the last few days there has been some buzz around the non-use of Impact Factors as a criteria for the UK’s Research Excellent Framework. Richard Catlow (head of the Chemistry REF panel) put it in writing here in an … Continue reading →

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Impact Factors — Letter to RCUK

Posted on 21 March 2013 by Stephen

Following my post of last week asking RCUK to include in the guidelines on their new open access policy a statement disavowing the use of impact factors in assessing funding applications, I wanted to thank everyone who registered their support. … Continue reading →

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It’s Time to Resist the Pressure

Posted on 14 March 2013 by Athene Donald

As part of my university’s preparation for the transition to open access, there is a project being run out of the University Library to look at how academics approach publishing. (Fellow OT blogger Stephen Curry has written much on the topic … Continue reading →

Posted in h factor, impact factor, promotion, Research, Science Culture, scientific misconduct | Comments Off on It’s Time to Resist the Pressure

Impact factors — RCUK provides a chance to act

Posted on 14 March 2013 by Stephen

If I had more time, this post would be shorter. But it explains how we have an opportunity to get UK research councils to help break the corrosive dependence of researchers on impact factors. Please at least skim all the … Continue reading →

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