Abstract
The Journal Citation Report (JCR®) for 2010 has just been released by Thomson Reuters. The JCR provides quantitative tools for ranking, evaluating, categorizing, and comparing journals. The Impact Factor is one of these; it is a measure of the frequency with which the “average article” in a journal has been cited in a particular year or period. The annual JCR Impact Factor is a ratio between citations and recent citable items published. For example, the 2010 Impact Factor is citations received in 2010 to all articles published in 2009 and 2008, divided by the number of “source items” published in 2009 and 2008. Perhaps the most important use of impact is in the process of academic and professional peer evaluation. The Impact Factor can be used to provide a gross approximation of the prestige of journals in which individuals have been published.
Earthquake Spectra's Impact Factor of 3.744 for 2010 ranks as the highest among 115 journals in the “Engineering, Civil” category. In the “Engineering, Geological” listing, we are again the number one journal among 30 periodicals. Our five-year Impact Factor reads as 2.166. All of these quantitative measures are due acknowledgment of the importance that this Journal plays in fulfillment of its founding mission: improving the practice of earthquake hazards mitigation, preparedness, and recovery. Once again, my thanks go to our authors, Editorial Board members, and Reviewers, all of whom have done their share in helping Earthquake Spectra reach this superb level of excellence.