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Limitations in Using JCR Impact Factor Rankings for LIS Journals

  • Journal of the Korean Biblia Society for Library and Information Science
  • 2024, 35(3), pp.57-76
  • DOI : 10.14699/kbiblia.2024.35.3.057
  • Publisher : Journal Of The Korean Biblia Society For Library And Information Science
  • Research Area : Interdisciplinary Studies > Library and Information Science
  • Received : August 16, 2024
  • Accepted : September 9, 2024
  • Published : September 30, 2024

Shin, Eun-Ja 1

1세종대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

JCR’s categorization significantly impacts the evaluation of research achievements in the field, particularly in information science and library science (IS & LS). Publishing in prestigious IS & LS journals often leads to lower evaluations due to their lower impact factor rankings. In contrast, publishing in higher-ranked Management Information Systems (MIS) journals classified under the IS & LS category is evaluated more favorably. Accordingly, this study analyzed the intersection of Library and Information Science (LIS) and MIS through an analysis of journal authors. This analysis was based on previous research that identified detailed subject areas of academic journals categorized under the IS & LS category in the JCR. As a result of the analysis, the intersection between the subfields of LIS and MIS was not substantial, and the strength of the connection was weak. Additionally, approximately 55% of universities in Seoul with LIS departments use JCR’s journal rankings by subject category to assess research achievements. The findings suggest that JCR’s subject category classification may negatively influence researchers’ evaluations and potentially distort the academic publishing landscape. In the future, the issues with research achievement evaluation standards will need to be supplemented and improved. The results of this study are expected to serve as valuable fundamental data for policy improvement.

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