Core Journals in Psychology: A Demonstration Project Robin Paynter, Social Sciences Librarian Portland State University Library [email_address]

Robin Paynter, Social Sciences Librarian

Portland State University Library

[email_address]

Project Goals Review & update list criteria Improve efficiency in creating the list Improve end-user functionality

Review & update list criteria

Improve efficiency in creating the list

Improve end-user functionality

Review & Update Criteria Criteria used in 2007 edition Journals ranked in the top ten in their subject category by impact factor in the 2005 edition of Journal Citation Reports (JCR) Journals appearing in Psychology: A Guide to Reference and Information Sources by Pam M. Baxter (1993) Journals held by 500 or more libraries, according to OCLC WorldCat as of January 9, 2005 (Retrieved from http://my.ilstu.edu/~brstoff/ebss/psycjournals107.htm)

Criteria used in 2007 edition

Journals ranked in the top ten in their subject category by impact factor in the 2005 edition of Journal Citation Reports (JCR)

Journals appearing in Psychology: A Guide to Reference and Information Sources by Pam M. Baxter (1993)

Journals held by 500 or more libraries, according to OCLC WorldCat as of January 9, 2005

(Retrieved from http://my.ilstu.edu/~brstoff/ebss/psycjournals107.htm)

Issues with Criteria Thomson Reuters’ Journal Citation Reports Impact factor (IF) Problems: 1) used latest year data in past editions, but there is often significant IF volatility year-to-year; 2) many psychology fields are not well represented in JCR, e.g., psychoanalysis Solution: 1) average impact factor over 5 years

Thomson Reuters’ Journal Citation Reports

Impact factor (IF)

Problems:

1) used latest year data in past editions, but there is often significant IF volatility year-to-year;

2) many psychology fields are not well represented in JCR, e.g., psychoanalysis

Solution:

1) average impact factor over 5 years

Issues with Criteria Baxter, P. M. (1993). Psychology: A guide to reference and information sources . Reference sources in the social sciences series, no. 6. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited. Problem : out of date Solution : discontinue use

Baxter, P. M. (1993). Psychology: A guide to reference and information sources . Reference sources in the social sciences series, no. 6. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited.

Problem : out of date

Solution : discontinue use

Issues with Criteria 500+ Libraries with journal holdings listed in OCLC W orldCat Problem: multiple ISSNs, multiple format holdings (print, microfilm, online for one library), multiple records for same ISSN, current & past subscriptions intermingled Solution: discontinue use

500+ Libraries with journal holdings listed in OCLC W orldCat

Problem: multiple ISSNs, multiple format holdings (print, microfilm, online for one library), multiple records for same ISSN, current & past subscriptions intermingled

Solution: discontinue use

Proposed New Criteria PsycINFO Journal List APA Core Journal List (1997) JCR Journal Impact Factor Scopus Journal title lists for widely available databases: EBSCO, Gale, Proquest, etc

PsycINFO Journal List

APA Core Journal List (1997)

JCR Journal Impact Factor

Scopus

Journal title lists for widely available databases: EBSCO, Gale, Proquest, etc

Database Pilot Project MySQL relational database: Updates: source .csv files, ISSN(s) match point, each year add more IF data Reports: average IF in category, IF five year trend analysis Downloadable .csv files

MySQL relational database:

Updates: source .csv files, ISSN(s) match point, each year add more IF data

Reports: average IF in category, IF five year trend analysis

Downloadable .csv files

Observations Multiple input files (with current information) give more detailed picture Database structure allows more & different types of analysis Less time intensive to update annually End users download .csv files to compare against their library’s holdings ISSNs surprisingly difficult problem

Multiple input files (with current information) give more detailed picture

Database structure allows more & different types of analysis

Less time intensive to update annually

End users download .csv files to compare against their library’s holdings

ISSNs surprisingly difficult problem