There are several methods of calculating the quality of scientific research and the the relative importance of a journal to literature and research. Informed and careful use of impact measures is essential, and the following must be kept in mind:
- The number of times a paper is cited is not a measure of its actual quality.
- Certain disciplines have low numbers of journals and usage. It's best to compare journals within the same discipline.
- Some tools that measure the impact data do not incorporate books.
- Review articles are cited more often and can change results.
- Self-citing may skew results.
For more information on journal and author metrics, please see our research guide: