Auto-correlation of journal impact factor for consensus research reporting statements: a cohort study.

ABSTRACT: Background. The Journal Citation Reports journal impact factors (JIFs) are widely used to rank and evaluate journals, standing as a proxy for the relative importance of a journal within its field. However, numerous criticisms have been made of use of a JIF to evaluate importance. This problem is exacerbated when the use of JIFs is extended to evaluate not only the journals, but the papers therein. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate the relationship between the number of citations and journal IF for identical articles published simultaneously in multiple journals. Methods. Eligible articles were consensus research reporting statements listed on the EQUATOR Network website that were published simultaneously in three or more journals. The correlation between the citation c

SUBMITTER: Shanahan DR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4824875 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature