Opinion from clinical folks about weight of papers in generalist or disorder-specific journals

Opinion from clinical folks about weight of papers in generalist or disorder-specific journals

clinicalapplicant (guest) 01 Nov 2012 14:53

Hello all,
I have a question about how search committees might weigh the importance of articles published in different types of journals for clinical applicants.

Is there any feel for whether first author papers published in generalist journals in clinical psychology (e.g., Journal of Abnormal Psychology) receive more weight than first author papers published in journals focused on specific disorders (e.g., Bipolar Disorders, Journal of Affective Disorders, Schizophrenia Bulletin, Journal of Anxiety Disorders) ? i.e., would a Journal of Abnormal Psychology paper be seen as a high impact publication, whereas a publication in a journal focused on a specific disorder that has an equal or higher impact factor would not?

Also, any sense about whether papers in the top Psychiatry journals (e.g., Archives of General Psychiatry, American Journal of Psychiatry; impact factors > 14) receive as much weight as papers published in top Psychology journals (e.g., APA journals)?

clinapp (guest) 01 Nov 2012 15:54

Journal of Abnormal would be seen as higher impact because it is a higher impact journal (at least compared to the ones you list). The very highest impact journals tend to be more generalist, but then again there are some great more specific journals and some lower impact generalist ones.

I think that the top psychiatry journals (esp. the two you mention) would receive more weight than APA journal. I definitely wouldn't be concerned about them receiving less weight.

TenuredPostDoc (guest) 07 Nov 2012 13:49

I've been advised that more general higher impact journals can help an application when it comes to committee members from outside your specific area (and in the overall field wide impact of you research). For instance an Arch Gen Psych paper is great but all other things being equal it'd be better to have an Archives paper and a J Neursci paper rather than 2 in Archives.

That being said. I've also been told to stop worrying, put my head down, and do good work. If you are debating between top journals than you'll likely be fine no matter where you choose to publish.