Based on Impact Factor (IF) data, the Journal Citation Reports published by Thomson Reuters provides yearly rankings of science and social science journals, in the subject categories relevant for the journal (in fact, there may be more than one).
Quartile rankings are therefore derived for each journal in each of its subject categories according to which quartile of the IF distribution the journal occupies for that subject category. Q1 denotes the top 25% of the IF distribution, Q2 for middle-high position (between top 50% and top 25%), Q3 middle-low position (top 75% to top 50%), and Q4 the lowest position (bottom 25% of the IF distribution).
