By Dr. Syed Wali Khaled
Welcome to the latest blog post on The Incredible Life Academy’s website! Today, we delve deep into the academic world of Tourism, Leisure, and Hospitality to uncover the trends in impact factors of key journals in these fields. This analysis, based on data compiled by Dr. Homer C. Wu as of June 22, 2024, offers insights that are invaluable for scholars, researchers, and practitioners alike. Additionally, this post serves as an introductory guide to understanding the critical metrics of citation indices, the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), and impact factors.
Trends in Impact Factors from 2010 to 2023
Impact factors are a vital metric in academic publishing, reflecting the average number of yearly citations to articles published in a journal. This metric is widely used to gauge the relevance and influence of journals within their respective fields. Dr. Wu’s assessment reveals significant upward trends in several key journals:
- Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management has shown remarkable growth, with its impact factor climbing from 2.597 in 2010 to 11.9 in 2023.
- Tourism Management has also seen impressive growth, with its impact factor increasing from 2.620 in 2010 to 10.9 in 2023.
- Annals of Tourism Research and the International Journal of Hospitality Management have similarly experienced substantial increases, underscoring a heightened scholarly focus on tourism and hospitality.
These trends highlight the dynamic nature of the tourism, leisure, and hospitality industries and their growing importance in both academic study and practical application.
Understanding Citation Indices and Impact Factors
For those new to academic publishing, citation indices are databases that track how frequently articles in a journal are cited by other works. These indices help determine the relative importance or rank of a journal within its field. Here are some of the most notable citation indices:
- Web of Science (WoS): This platform includes several databases such as the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), providing comprehensive citation data across disciplines.
- Scopus: Known for its broad coverage, Scopus offers powerful tools for tracking and analysing citation data.
- Google Scholar: A free, accessible database that indexes scholarly literature across various formats and disciplines.
Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI)
Part of the Web of Science, the SSCI focuses on the social sciences, indexing articles from scientific journals in this domain. Inclusion in the SSCI is a mark of quality and prestige, indicating high standards of scholarly significance.
How are Impact Factors Calculated?
The impact factor is calculated using the following formula:
Impact Factor=
Citations in the current year to articles published in the last two years /Total number of articles published in the last two years
This calculation helps scholars and institutions decide where to publish, ensuring that their research reaches a wide and relevant audience.
Conclusion
Understanding the trends in impact factors and the basics of citation indices is crucial for navigating the academic landscape effectively. This knowledge not only aids in selecting the right journals for publishing research but also helps in evaluating the influence and reach of published work. At The Incredible Life Academy, we are committed to providing resources that empower our community with the knowledge to excel in their academic and professional pursuits. We hope this guide helps illuminate the path for emerging scholars and seasoned academics in the vibrant fields of tourism, leisure, and hospitality.
