Colleagues, I would like to bring your attention to ongoing discussions on "Science Metrics", "Academic Rankings", "Peer reviewing" etc. (Quoted From Nature website) ....The use of metrics to measure and assess scientific performance is a subject of deep concern, especially among younger scientists. Scientometricians have devised a multitude of 'metrics' to help in these rankings. Do they work? Are they fair? Are they over-used? read more at http://www.nature.com/news/specials/metrics/index.html Another Science Magazine "the Scientist" had an issue recently on this topic at http://www.the-scientist.com/toc/2010/08/ Thanks Dr. J. K. VIJAYAKUMAR, --- On Wed, 9/15/10, Mailing List Admin wrote: From: Mailing List Admin Subject: Re: [LIS-Forum] THE IMPACT FACTOR SYNDROME To: lis-forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in Date: Wednesday, September 15, 2010, 4:03 AM Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 22:34:38 +0530 (IST) From: MP Tapaswi Dear Colleagues, I do agree with Shri Sameer Jha's views. But for the QUICK quantitative assessment of the contributions of author(s), this is the only parameter available and hence unless there is any alternative, this practice would continue. I remember Dr. Mashelkar's words when similar argument was made years before (Indian vs International journals). He indicated he is not against Indian Journals but they should raise their competitiveness so that the authors get attracted to them for publishing their science. So one should not equate Indian journals with no (or less) Impact Factor (IF). I also had exchange of thoughts on this with the authors and they admit that they not only benefit by getting IF to their credits but also the impartial refereeing system available with international journals help improving quality of their publication (exceptions apart). As a library professional, I would also like to indicate that the librarians can play a very important role in the organizations in helping assessment of individuals, projects, etc., with such bibliographic parameters. Note that there is no system that is perfect. Regards, - Murari Tapaswi National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa -- Original Message -- From: Mailing List Admin To: lis-forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 18:26:48 +0530 (IST) Subject: [LIS-Forum] THE IMPACT FACTOR SYNDROME Date: Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:49:05 +0530

From: sameer jha

As a library professional, I consider this important to share it with all the concerned members of the fraternity that, currently, the impact factor, h-indices and similar other quantities have, unjustifiably, become the only yardsticks to measure the quality of one's scientific contributions. It discourage the authors and researcher to submit their manuscripts to national journals. Adding the pain, this is considered as a rule of thumb by the peers and judges also. The younger lot has also started to feel that the publication in the so-called International journal alone can give them recognition and job. The conditions all around us has been made so pathetic that even in job application forms, there is a distinction between national and international journals.

My question is very simple -Do the national journals not have international authorship, visibility or recognition? -Aren't we producing good quality scientific article? -Aren't national authors getting published in international journals?

Luckily, there are many who share this pain...one of the person I would like to mention is Dr. S.C. Lakhotia of cytogenetics laboratory, Department of Zoology, Banaras Hindu University. He has corresponded his pain in one of his article in the CURRENT SCIENCE Journal:

http://www.ias.ac.in/currsci/25aug2010/411.pdf

Thanking you all with regards..

SAMEER JHA _______________________________________________ LIS-Forum mailing list LIS-Forum@ncsi.iisc.ernet.in http://ncsi.iisc.ernet.in/mailman/listinfo/lis-forum

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