On Journal Ranking: A Conundrum for Interior Design.

ABSTRACT Systems of journal ranking can be arbitrary and problematic, particularly in highly specialized academic fields where journals are of limited scope and circulation. One field in which journal ranking is problematic is interior design. This article addresses existing ranking systems for academic journals and explores the limitations of these ranking systems. An attempt is made to suggest effective methods that could be developed for ranking interior design journals. The multiple factors that need to be considered in ranking journals in such a specialized field are discussed, including ranking bias, categorical specialization, and geographic and institutional variables. Implications of this review indicate that journal ranking for interior design should be considered within the context of relevant specialized journals rather than the current practice that places interior design in a broad comparative ranking system outside of its field. Multiple cross-referencing measurements, including impact factors, subject-specific citation rates, and acceptance rates, as well as prestige factors based on peer perceptual ranking of interior design journals need to be implemented. Faculty and institutional evaluations need to be based on composite factors that take into account not only a meaningful journal ranking system, but also a broader, and at the same time more accurate, metric to include the actual value of the publication itself, the focus of research, and the goals of the individual and of the institution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]