Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026
05:02
Comparing Bibliometric Analysis Using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science Databases
Published on: October 24, 2019
How come scientists uncritically adopt and embody Thomson's bibliographic impact factor?
Miquel Porta1, Carlos Alvarez-Dardet
1Institut Municipal d'Investigació Mèdica, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. mporta@imim.es
Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.)
|April 17, 2008
Summary
The Bibliographic Impact Factor (BIF) is often an invalid scientometric indicator. Its denominator, the number of source items, significantly skews results, highlighting cultural influences on scientific metrics.
Area of Science:
- Bibliometrics
- Scientometrics
- Scientific Impact Analysis
Background:
- The Bibliographic Impact Factor (BIF) from Thomson Scientific is frequently utilized but faces criticism regarding its validity as a scientometric indicator.
- A primary concern involves the arbitrary selection of 'source items' or 'articles' used as the denominator in BIF calculations.
Discussion:
- The methodology behind BIF is questioned due to the significant influence of the denominator choice.
- This reliance on a potentially biased denominator raises concerns about the objective measurement of journal impact.
- The persistent use of BIF, despite its scientific limitations, suggests deeper cultural factors influencing scientific evaluation.
Key Insights:
- The number of 'source items' critically impacts the BIF, often rendering it an unreliable metric.
- Scientometric indicators must be carefully scrutinized for methodological flaws and potential biases.
- The cultural context in which scientific metrics are developed and applied is a crucial consideration.
Outlook:
- Future research should focus on developing more robust and less culturally susceptible scientometric indicators.
- Promoting a nuanced understanding of journal impact beyond simplistic metrics is essential.
- Encouraging critical evaluation of scientific metrics within the broader scientific community is vital.
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