The 2023 impact factor for PLOS One is 2.9.
PLOS One, a prominent multidisciplinary open-access journal, has seen its impact factor evolve over time. The impact factor serves as a metric reflecting the average number of citations to recent articles published in that journal within a specific period.
Historical Context of PLOS One's Impact Factor
PLOS One was first included in the Journal Citation Reports in January 2010, at which point it received an initial impact factor of 4.4. This marked its entry into the established system of journal metrics. Over the years, like many journals, its impact factor has fluctuated.
Below is a summary of the known impact factors for PLOS One:
| Year | Impact Factor |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 4.4 |
| 2023 | 2.9 |
Understanding Journal Impact Factors
The impact factor is calculated annually and is often used by researchers to gauge the relative importance of a journal within its field. A higher impact factor generally suggests that a journal's articles are cited more frequently by other researchers. However, it's crucial to remember that the impact factor is just one of many metrics for assessing a journal's quality and influence.
Publication Model
Beyond its impact factor, PLOS One is recognized for its commitment to open science. Papers published in PLOS One are released under Creative Commons licenses, promoting broad accessibility and reuse of scientific research. For more information about the journal's history and scope, you can visit its Wikipedia page.
