Impact factors in scientific journals

A scientific journal's impact factor (as determined by the Institute for Scientific Information's Journal Citation Reports) is becoming increasingly important to many potential authors, academic institutions, and various individuals in the field of medical publishing. However, one of the problems with using this citation index as a barometer of any publication's influence is the fact that these factors can, indeed, be manipulated. It has come to our knowledge that editors of several journals are currently practicing one such form of manipulation of their journal's impact factor. Copies of articles published in these journals are being sent to reviewers along with the manuscript to be reviewed; the referees are then asked to suggest to the authors that these articles be cited in that manuscript. It is, actually, quite a brilliant way to increase the impact factor for that journal. However, we seriously question that approach to reviewing, editing, and publishing scientific articles. We believe that manuscript authors should be entrusted to decide for themselves precisely which articles should be cited in their articles. When certain shortcomings are apparent in the references of that manuscript, the referees should make suggestions based on their experience and expertise in that particular area of study; they should certainly not be forced to recommend citations based solely on the name of the journal in which those articles appeared. Such obvious manipulation of the impact factor is simply not honorable. It is important to note that the Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging is not currently practicing and has never practiced activity intended to manipulate the citation impact factor. It is our view that such a practice is inappropriate. In addition, it is important to observe that the existence and use of indices such as the citation impact factor, which have the potential to be manipulated, should not be over-weighted or the sole basis for quality control in scientific archival journals. C. Leon Partain, MD, PhD Editor-in-Chief, JMRI Gary D. Fullerton, PhD Editor-in-Chief, Emeritus, JMRI Anders Hemmingsson MD, Ph Chief Editor*, Johan Edgren MD, PhD Editor*, Thorkild Mygind MD, PhD Editor*, Arnulf Skjennald MD, PhD Editor*, * Acta Radiologica