What is a good impact factor?

The concept of a "good" impact factor (IF) is relative and depends heavily on the specific field of research. There's no universally agreed-upon threshold. However, we can discuss what constitutes a high or respectable IF, and what factors to consider beyond just the number itself:

Understanding Impact Factors:

• Definition: The Journal Citation Reports (JCR) from Clarivate Analytics calculates the impact factor. It's the average number of citations received per article published in a journal during a specific period (typically the previous two years). A higher IF generally suggests that the journal's articles are frequently cited by other researchers, implying greater influence and visibility within its field.

What constitutes a "good" IF?

• Field-Specific: A high IF in one field might be considered average or low in another. Highly competitive fields like medicine, physics, or computer science often have much higher average IFs than fields like anthropology or certain areas of the humanities. You should always compare a journal's IF to the average IF for journals in its specific subject area.
• Trends: Impact factors fluctuate. A journal's IF might be exceptionally high one year and slightly lower the next, potentially due to publishing fewer highly cited articles that year. Don't solely rely on one year's IF. Look at the trend over several years.
• Journal Reputation: While the IF is a quantitative metric, it's important to consider the journal's overall reputation and standing within the community. A journal with a moderately high IF might still be more prestigious than one with a slightly higher IF, depending on factors like editorial rigor, influence, and the quality of its peer-review process.
• Self-Citation: A high self-citation rate (articles in the journal citing other articles within the same journal) can artificially inflate the IF. Be aware of this potential bias.

Interpreting IFs Cautiously:

• Not a perfect measure: The IF has limitations. It doesn't reflect the quality of all articles published in a journal, only the average citation count. Highly cited review articles or those with broad appeal can disproportionately influence the IF. It can also be influenced by citation practices in different fields (some fields simply cite more frequently than others).
• Beyond the number: Consider other factors like the journal's scope, audience, and reputation. A journal with a slightly lower IF but a strong reputation in your specific niche could be a better choice than a higher-IF journal in a broader field.

In summary, there's no magic number. Instead of focusing solely on a specific IF value, consider it within the context of your field, look at trends over time, and evaluate the overall quality and reputation of the journal. Consult resources like the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) for IF data and use it alongside other criteria for choosing where to publish your work.