An anomalous journal impact factor
Abstract
The impact factor (average number of citations per paper) for the Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series jumped between 2003 and 2004 from 6.247 to 15.231, giving it the world's second highest impact factor for an astronomical journal in 2004. Was this change due to a computing error or to an unusual occurrence? It is shown that it was due to the extremely high citation rates (average of 160 citations per year) for 13 papers in the special issue devoted to the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe.
- Publication:
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Astronomische Nachrichten
- Pub Date:
- August 2006
- DOI:
- 10.1002/asna.200510622
- Bibcode:
- 2006AN....327..737A