Increasing importance of research metrics: Journal Impact Factor and h-index

Excerpt

Scientific research is defined as a relentless and incremental scholarly progress published in academic journals. This “publish or perish” adage is increasingly applied to the medical culture, and publishing one’s work has recently become critical for career progression. Indeed, the escalating competition to publish has led to the development of bibliographical research metrics that define a journal’s academic repute as well as a researcher’s output. Academic publishing, however, is influenced by a tripod of interrelated factors: authors wish to publish more, readers are overwhelmed by research and wish to read less, and editors are principally interested in enhancing their journal’s readership and profile via its scientific impact. Potential authors must be cognizant of these opposing forces in order to succeed. …