1. What is Impact Factor?

Impact Factor (IF) is a measure of the frequency with which the average article in a journal has been cited in a particular year. It is used to measure the importance or rank of a journal by calculating the times its articles are cited.

2. How is Impact Factor Calculated?

The Impact Factor is calculated using the following equation:

Where:

• \( citations \) — Total number of citations in the current year to items published in the previous two years
• \( publishable\_items \) — Total number of citable items (articles, reviews) published in the same two years

Example: If a journal has 500 citations in 2023 to articles published in 2021-2022, and published 200 citable items in 2021-2022, its 2023 IF would be 500/200 = 2.5

3. Importance of Impact Factor

Details: Impact Factor is widely used (though sometimes controversial) as a metric for journal quality. It influences where researchers choose to publish, institutional subscriptions, and funding decisions.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the total number of citations received and the total number of publishable items. Both values must be positive numbers (items must be ≥1).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What time period does Impact Factor cover?
A: The standard Journal Impact Factor covers a 2-year window, though 5-year Impact Factors are also calculated.

Q2: What counts as a "citable item"?
A: Typically research articles and reviews count, while editorials, letters, and news items usually don't.

Q3: What is a good Impact Factor?
A: This varies by field. In general, IF > 10 is excellent, 3-10 is good, while below 3 is typical for many fields.

Q4: What are limitations of Impact Factor?
A: It can be skewed by a few highly cited papers, doesn't account for differences between fields, and may favor journals that publish more review articles.

Q5: Are there alternatives to Impact Factor?
A: Yes, metrics like CiteScore, h-index, Eigenfactor, and Altmetrics provide different perspectives on journal impact.