1. What is Impact Factor?

The 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 Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard Impact Factor formula:

Where:

• \( Citations\ (N-1 + N-2) \) — Total citations received in the previous two years
• \( Publications\ (N-1 + N-2) \) — Total number of citable items published in the previous two years
• \( IF \) — Impact Factor (unitless ratio)

Explanation: The formula calculates the average number of citations per published article over a two-year period.

3. Importance of Impact Factor

Details: Impact Factor is widely used in academia and research to evaluate journal quality, make publication decisions, and assess research impact. Higher impact factors generally indicate greater journal prestige.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of citations and publications for the two preceding years (N-1 and N-2). Publications must be greater than zero to calculate a valid impact factor.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is considered a good Impact Factor?
A: This varies by field, but generally: <1 (low), 1-3 (moderate), 3-6 (good), 6-10 (very good), >10 (excellent).

Q2: How often is Impact Factor calculated?
A: Typically calculated annually by organizations like Clarivate Analytics and published in Journal Citation Reports.

Q3: What are the limitations of Impact Factor?
A: It can be skewed by review articles, varies across disciplines, and doesn't measure individual article quality.

Q4: How does Impact Factor differ from other metrics?
A: Unlike h-index or citation count, IF measures journal-level performance rather than individual researcher performance.

Q5: Can Impact Factor be manipulated?
A: Yes, through practices like excessive self-citation, publishing more review articles, or editorial policies that encourage citation.