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Is there a pecking order in physics journals?

MAY 01, 1974
Analysis of close to a million citations puts Physical Review at the top of the list, but the order changes when we adjust for “impact” and “immediacy.”
Herbert Inhaber

When physicists wish to communicate their work by means of publication, several considerations are weighed before choosing the appropriate journal. There is the matter of audience; of the probable delay between acceptance and publication; of article format (letter, review, standard research report). If the article is potentially controversial, the author may estimate its chances of being accepted by different journals. Considerations of national pride may sway the choice: An author may submit a work to a journal in his own country rather than to one that has a greater circulation and impact but is published in a foreign country.

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References

  1. 1. C. C. Chen, J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci. 23, 254 (1972).

  2. 2. R. L. Kenyon, R. N. Hader, J. Chem. Doc. 5, 135 (1965).https://doi.org/JCHDAN

  3. 3. O. E. Sheppard, J. Chem. Ed. 12, 472 (1935).https://doi.org/JCEDA8

  4. 4. R. L. Barrett, M. A. Barrett, J. Chem. Ed. 34 (1) 35 (1957).https://doi.org/JCEDA8

  5. 5. S. Mizushima, Bussei 12, 214 (1971).

  6. 6. M. M. Kessler, NBS Mis. Pub. 269, 15 Dec. 1965, Wash., D.C.; page 193.

  7. 7. J. Martyn, A. Gilchrist, “An Evaluation of British Scientific Journals,” Aslib, London (1968).

  8. 8. L. J. Anthony, H. East, M. J. Slater, Rep. Prog. Phys. 32, 709 (1969).https://doi.org/RPPHAG

  9. 9. F. Narin, M. Carpenter, N. C. Berlt, J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci. 23, 323 (1972).

  10. 10. For a bibliography of the use of citations in the analysis of science see “Science Citation Index 1972—Source Index,” Institute for Scientific Information, Philadelphia (1973).

  11. 11. E. Garfield, Science 178, 471 (1972).https://doi.org/SCIEAS

  12. 12. H. W. Koch, Science 174, 918 (1971).https://doi.org/SCIEAS

  13. 13. See reference 10, page 19.

More about the authors

Herbert Inhaber, Policy Analyst, Science Policy Branch, Planning and Finance Service, of Environment Canada, Ottawa.

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This Content Appeared In
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Volume 27, Number 5

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