A bibliometric investigation of the journals that were repeatedly suppressed from Clarivate's Journal Citation Reports

Journals indexed by Clarivate are temporarily suppressed from the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) if their Journal Impact Factor (JIF) scores are distorted through excessive self-citations or citation stacking with other journals. This paper reports the results of a bibliometric investigation that covers the 18 journals that were suppressed three or more times from the JCR. Results indicate that these 18 journals were repeatedly and exclusively suppressed for being excessive self-citers. Together, these 18 journals totaled 65 suppressions. Two of these 18 journals have lost the status of a JIF-carrying journal. One has changed its title to start as a new. Of the 16 journals that are still included in the JCR, 12 (four) have significantly (slightly) reduced their self-citation rates. Two of these journals are, however, experiencing what the author calls a cycle of suppression. Upon further examination, it turned out that one of these 18 journals is currently using JIF boosting stratagems not yet banished by Clarivate.

Automated summary

This study investigates 18 journals that have been suppressed from the Journal Citation Reports multiple times, and finds that excessive self-citations are the main reason for their suppression. Two of these journals have lost their JIF status, and one has changed its title. Among the remaining 16 journals, 12 have significantly reduced their self-citation rates. However, two of these journals are still experiencing a cycle of suppression, and one of them is currently using JIF boosting strategies that have not yet been banned by Clarivate.