Citation Metrics and Impact Factors Fail as Measures of Scientific Quality, in Particular in Taxonomy, and are Biased by Biological Discipline and by Geographic and Taxonomic Factors

摘要: Based on my experience and analyses of citation frequencies papers published in various biological journals, I discuss the use counts journal Impact Factors as measures scientific quality. conclude that frequency differs not only among sub-disciplines such ecology taxonomy, but also taxonomic highly similar topics, these latter differences largely depend organismal group (cryptogams vs. vascular plants species-rich vs small genera families) geographic region concerned. As a result, journals with broad scope face difficulties competing terms Factors, thus for best manuscripts, specialized particular attract many citations. However, since “hot” topics tend to be short-lived, differences, at least part, would much reduced if citations were counted longer periods time or compensated based average age cited field. In factors originality innovativeness, generally regarded quality, appear inversely correlated frequency. I, therefore, editors able significantly increase by choosing publication most scientifically valuable supreme articles, picking manuscripts position distribution organisms Still, author sincerely hopes no editor will ever take measures!