What are the differences between impact factor and h-index?

What are the differences between impact factor and h-index?

The impact factor measures the average number of citations to articles published in a journal, while the h-index measures both the productivity and citation impact of an individual researcher.

Can you explain how each metric is calculated?

Sure! The impact factor is calculated by dividing the number of citations in a given year to articles published in the previous two years by the total number of articles published in those two years. The h-index is calculated based on the number of papers (h) that have received at least h citations.

Which one is more important for evaluating research quality?

It depends on the context. The impact factor is often used to evaluate journals, while the h-index is more useful for assessing individual researchers. Both have their strengths and weaknesses.

Are there any limitations to these metrics?

Yes, both metrics have limitations. The impact factor can be influenced by a few highly cited papers, and the h-index may not reflect the impact of recent work or interdisciplinary research.