A pilot study was undertaken to test the journal diffusion factor (JDF) as an alternative to journal impact factors (JIFs) for ranking journals. Bibliometric research methods were applied to rank Australian architecture, communications and education journals by the JDF; this was with the total number of citations they attract in ISI indexed journals, the proportion of articles published that attracted citations, and publishing characteristics. It was found that JDF does not provide a comparable alternative journal ranking method to JIF, although it may contribute to our understanding of the nature of a journal. Until further research is conducted, a JDF ranking should be considered as an independent measure of journal rank. (Contains 4 tables, 2 figures and 26 notes.)