An impact factor(IF) has been used extensively as a measure of the importance and impact of journals recently. The IF provided by the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) is calculated based on the most recent three years period. For example, the IF of 2003 for a journal is calculated; the number articles published in 2001 to 2002 cited in tracked journals during 2003 divided by the number of articles published in 2001 to 2002. In this work, we examine the different patterns of IF of journals in different fields as well as within the same field. We also provide a method of clustering journals according to the characteristics of the corresponding IF within the same field. Based on the experiences from analyzing the IF, we propose modified IFs from statistics point of view as possible new measures for the characteristics of different journals.

Class of 2012 Abstract / Specific Aims: To explore whether publishing requirements for human-centered randomized control trials, particularly the CONSORT criteria, have any relationship to impact as measured by the Journal Citation Reports ™ Impact Factor. Methods: A worksheet was used to evaluate a methodically selected list of journals, including types of articles published, requirements of authors for human-focused randomized control trials, JCR Impact Factor and other JCR metrics for each specific journal title. A worksheet was filled out for each journal by each member of the research team and answers combined for consensus. Group means and SDs were calculated and the Student’s t-Test applied to values for selected journals. Main Results: 50 candidate pharmacy journals were identified and 41 met the criteria for publishing human-centered randomized control trials. Journals were grouped according to whether they required CONSORT or had other reporting requirements for human RCTs, or had no requirements for such studies. Few (6; 15%) pharmacy journals required authors to use CONSORT; and additional 15 (37%) journals provided as least some author guidelines similar to CONSORT. Pharmacy journals using CONSORT or other guidelines had a higher average impact factor (3.5; SD = 1.5) than did journals without guidelines (2.4; SD = 0.9; p = 0.007). Conclusions: There appears to be a statistical difference in average JCR metrics between journals which require specific RCT guidelines and those which do not. The use of reporting guidelines, such as CONSORT, by pharmacy journals is associated with increased impact as represented by JCR influence measures.