Use of the Journal Impact Factor in academic review, promotion, and tenure evaluations.

ELife
Erin C. McKiernanJuan Pablo Alperin

Abstract

We analyzed how often and in what ways the Journal Impact Factor (JIF) is currently used in review, promotion, and tenure (RPT) documents of a representative sample of universities from the United States and Canada. 40% of research-intensive institutions and 18% of master's institutions mentioned the JIF, or closely related terms. Of the institutions that mentioned the JIF, 87% supported its use in at least one of their RPT documents, 13% expressed caution about its use, and none heavily criticized it or prohibited its use. Furthermore, 63% of institutions that mentioned the JIF associated the metric with quality, 40% with impact, importance, or significance, and 20% with prestige, reputation, or status. We conclude that use of the JIF is encouraged in RPT evaluations, especially at research-intensive universities, and that there is work to be done to avoid the potential misuse of metrics like the JIF.

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Citations

Apr 21, 2020·PLoS Genetics·Naomi C Penfold, Jessica K Polka
Jun 13, 2020·ELife·Jason D FernandesAmanda Haage
Aug 13, 2020·ELife·Anna Hatch, Stephen Curry
Apr 2, 2020·Journal of Sleep Research·Nathaniel S Marshall, Camilla M Hoyos
Oct 23, 2020·Perspectives on Medical Education·Lauren A MaggioAnthony R Artino
Jan 30, 2021·Nature Human Behaviour·Leonid TiokhinThomas J H Morgan
Feb 20, 2021·EMBO Reports·Howy Jacobs
Apr 1, 2021·Accountability in Research·Chris R TriggleDonald Grierson
Jun 24, 2021·BMC Proceedings·Michael Boyce, Renato J Aguilera
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Oct 29, 2021·PloS One·Esteban MoralesJuan Pablo Alperin

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