title: The use and misuse of the "impact factor" as a parameter for evaluation of scientific publication quality: a proposal to rationalize its application.
abstract: We present a critical analysis of the generalized use of the "impact factor". By means of the Kruskal-Wallis test, it was shown that it is not possible to compare distinct disciplines using the impact factor without adjustments. After assigning the median journal the value of one (1.000), the impact factor value for each journal was calculated by the rule of three. The adjusted values were homogeneous, thus permitting comparison among distinct disciplines.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Pesquisas Ren Rachou, FIOCUZ, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil. coelhopm@cpqrr.fiocruz.br
authors.forename: P M Z
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: C M F
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Antunes
authors.forename: H M A
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Kroon
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Sousa Lima
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Linardi
mesh_terms: D015706:Bibliometrics; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011643:Publishing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013038:Specialization; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric