This article argues that the current approach to evaluating a journal’s impact is a fragile metric that is prone to being skewed by outlier values and that does not speak to a researcher’s contribution to furthering health outcomes for all populations. The article proposes the implementation of a Diversity Factor to fulfill this need and supplement the current metrics. The Diversity Factor is composed of four key elements: dataset properties, author country, author gender and departmental affiliation. The article reveals the results of a test using the Diversity Factor for evaluation: In total, 130,721 papers over a period of more than 20 years were identified from 7,462 journals where significant underrepresentation of female authors and authors from low- and middle-income countries was demonstrated.
Published August 14, 2023
Sign up to receive our monthly Research Roundup email, which offers a selection of new public health research from major journals.
Recent Abstracts
Effects of Heat on Early Childhood Development
Blood Lead Surveillance of Children and Pregnant Women in Tamil Nadu, India
Sportswashing through Media: Coca-Cola’s Olympic Play – A Research Report
What’s in Our Food?
Mais Dados Mais Saúde
More Data, Better Health – Primary Health Care
Mais Dados Mais Saúde: Experiência De Discriminação Cotidiana Pela População Brasileira
More Data, Better Health – Experience of everyday Discrimination by the Brazilian population
Monitoramento de Estratégias pelo Fim da Violência contra Crianças e Adolescentes
Harm Reduction: The Neglected Pillar of US Drug Policy