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Bibliometric rankings of journals based on Impact Factors: An axiomatic approach

Bouyssou, Denis; Marchant, Thierry (2011), Bibliometric rankings of journals based on Impact Factors: An axiomatic approach, Journal of Informetrics, 5, 1, p. 75-86. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2010.09.001

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Type
Article accepté pour publication ou publié
Date
2011
Journal name
Journal of Informetrics
Volume
5
Number
1
Publisher
Elsevier
Pages
75-86
Publication identifier
Metadata
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Author(s)
Bouyssou, Denis cc
Marchant, Thierry
Abstract (EN)
This paper proposes an axiomatic analysis of Impact Factors when used as tools for ranking journals. This analysis draws on the similarities between the problem of comparing distribution of citations among papers and that of comparing probability distributions on consequences as commonly done in decision theory. Our analysis singles out a number of characteristic properties of the ranking based on Impact Factors. We also suggest alternative ways of using distributions of citations to rank order journals.
Subjects / Keywords
Bibliometrics; Journal rankings; Impact Factor; Expected utility; Decision theory