ISI Subject Category may be misleading

Jan Schoones   (2007-12-28 13:10)  Walaeus Library

Dear Darren,

For your article you have analysed data in the set of journals ISI has named MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL. This is a rather odd set of journals. On the one hand, there are 50 journals which have a general scope (e.g. Nat Med, Clin Invest Med). These journals fit well into this category.

On the other hand, there are 26 journals with a very specific scope (e.g. Laryngoscope and Genet Counsel). These journals do not fit well into this category - they are mis-categorized. The journal Laryngoscope is also put in the ISI-subject category OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY, where it fits well. Genet Counsel is also put in three other categories, including GENETICS & HEREDITY. This journal also fits these other categories better.

My suggestion would be to either test your hypothesis on a more fitting set of journals (with a more specific scope) or on the abridged set of 50 journals in the category MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL which have a general scope.

Cordially,

Jan

J.W. Schoones, MA

Walaeus Library

Collection Development Coordinator / Information specialist

Leiden University Medical Center

C1-Q

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j.w.schoones@lumc.nl

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Competing interests

No competing interests.

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