Factoring into Impact: Librarian involvement on knowledge synthesis projects and relationship to journal impact factor

There are numerous benefits for a researcher to involve a librarian in their knowledge synthesis project. Previously published studies have shown that librarians perform more precise searches when compared to expert searching clinicians, and that there is a correlation between librarian co-authors on systematic reviews and higher quality search strategies and methodological reporting. However, does librarian involvement make a difference when it comes to publication venue? With this project, we sought to determine what, if any, correlation exists between librarian involvement on knowledge synthesis projects, and the impact factor of the journals in which those syntheses are published.

Focusing on the journals from a single category ('Psychology, Clinical') in Clarivate's Journal Citation Reports (JCR), the authors analyzed the librarian involvement (co-author, acknowledged, unclear or none) in a complete set of English language knowledge syntheses published in those journals, over a one-year period (2020). The authors will use that analysis to determine whether a correlation exists between level of librarian involvement and impact factor of the journal in which those knowledge syntheses have been published.

We have currently completed coding all knowledge syntheses for librarian involvement and are in the process of mapping that to the impact factor of the publication venue.

Recording: https://youtu.be/BhtW221iFJ8