The function of national journals in disseminating applied science

This paper considers the problem of national versus international journals. The practice in certain countries of giving 'recognition' only to Science Citation Index journals, per se, does a disservice to national journals. These journals serve an important role in local diffusion of applied information. Sixty papers were studied: half published in a local Spanish journal and the other half in international journals. They were written by the same groups of researchers. Indicators designed to discriminate the type of research published in both sets were used. The analysis indicated that the type of research published in the Spanish journals is applied, whereas that published abroad is basic. Apparently, the Spanish journal is nearer to the industrial sector. However, to disregard the local journal for evaluative purposes may be a disservice to scientists who are trying to help in the transfer of information to the industrial sector.