1. How to Get your Journal Indexed in WoS and SCOPUS
Beyond the Impact Factor - the use of citation data to maximize your publishing potential
October 29, 2011
Dr. Mehrdad Fahimi
Integrated Information Network

2. Background
Ministry of Health and Medical Education’s Initiative to get Medical Journals Indexed in Major A&I databases
Level of Medical Research
International Exposure
International Collaboration
Funding

3. Comparison: Thomson Reuters (12000)
Iran: 38 journals indexed in WoS
About 22 in Medicine
Turkey: 74 journals indexed in WoS
About 40 in Medicine

4. Comparison: Elsevier (Scopus) all subjects (18,500)
Iran: 88 journals indexed
Turkey: 188 journals indexed

5. How to Get Indexed in WoS

6. The Thomson Reuters Editorial process
The Foundation
The Thomson Reuters Editorial process
In-house Editorial Development Specialists – ongoing detailed journal evaluation and selection processes.
Sciences – to 1900,
A Century of Science
Social Sciences – to 1945
Arts & Humanities – to 1975
Quality
Diversity
Web of Science
Depth
Coverage of over 250 disciplines in the Sciences, Social Sciences, and Arts & Humanities Comprehensive coverage in all disciplines.
Journal selectivity, Cover-to-Cover Indexing, Diversity, Consistency, Depth. Author Cited References for over 110 years
The foundation of our platform is the Web of Science – providing access to the ISI Citation databases on the web.
First -- “Quality”. Our team of highly qualified and experienced editors select journals for coverage using a stringent and time tested journal selection process. Because we are not associated with any primary publishers of academic journals our selection process is unbiased and impartial. We evaluate all types of journals including journals from commercial publishers, academic society journals, open access journals and electronic only journals. Our methods are time tested and consistent.
Next -- “Diversity”. The Web of Science is a truly multidisciplinary database of over 8,900 journals in over 230 categories. 6,300 of these are in the hard sciences alone: the life sciences, physics, chemistry mathematics etc. We also have comprehensive coverage of the Social Sciences and Arts & Humanities literature – all disciplines. This allows you to discover obscure relationships between disciplines and get the complete picture of any particular research topic. It also gives you a broad and even insight into the entire academic publishing community. This is absolutely essential for performing non-biased retrospective research and systematic research evaluation.
Depth of the coverage. Going all the way back to 1900 in Sciences, 1956 in the Social Sciences and 1975 in the Arts & Humanities, you can be sure of getting the complete history of any research topic. Although we recognize the importance of current information (the Web of Science is as current as any resource), we have found that some of the most influential research is often decades old, and without researching the historic records significantly you will be missing out on key information.
Finally, the “unique capabilities” that are provided within the Web of Science. We have been consistently capturing, unifying and standardising Author Cited References over 50 years, and this allows unique methods of discovery simply not possible in any other literature database. Our unique and consistent editorial rules for processing cited references permit the researcher precise searching for all works by a particular author.
Unique Data
Superior Collection Development

7. Thomson Scientific Editorial Development
Our Goal
Build and maintain a multidisciplinary collection of world’s most important and influential international and regional journals.
Professional librarians, information specialists, graduate degrees in science or humanities.
When are journals evaluated for coverage?
On an ongoing basis throughout the year.
Journal Selection Process
Objective
Applied consistently to ALL publishers
Credible

8. Comprehensive Coverage and Consistent Indexing
Cover to cover Indexing assures no gaps in the literature
All document types applied consistently across all titles to ensure precise searching across disciplines
Capture all cited references to articles in covered journals and to articles in journals not covered.
~40 million per year – consistently indexed – standardization
What does this mean for the users at your institutions?
-- presentation of “the best” body of journal information within their areas of interest.
Undergraduates – the vast majority just don’t know enough about individual journals to make these determinations on their own. They may simply take whatever they find -- and in the Web of Science they find quality by default.
Graduates/PhDs – Require a focus on what is most influential as their own academic intensity increases dramatically. They must quickly become familiar with the top publications of relevance to their studies.
Faculty – A multitude of benefits.
Efficient, Quality Current Awareness within their fields.
Citation-tracking capabilities across decades.
Where should I publish? – Web of Science journals are in fact the journals included within the Journal Citation Reports.
Research Administrators
What is the Impact of Funded Research and
Where should I continue to Invest

9. Editorial Development - Background
What is our Purpose?
Build and maintain a multidisciplinary collection of world’s most important and influential international and regional journals.
Who are we?
Professional librarians, information specialists, graduate degrees in science or humanities.
When are journals evaluated for coverage?
On an ongoing basis throughout the year.

10. Journal Selection Process
Objective
Applied consistently to ALL publishers
Credible
Search >>> Measure >>> Evaluate

11. Web of Science - Journal Selection Process
Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE)
Citation analysis
Self Citation Rate
Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI)
Arts & Humanities Citation Index (A&HCI)

12. Journal Selection Process
Web of Science is comprehensive but not all inclusive.
Small number of journals publish the bulk of significant scientific results.
300 journal produce more than half of what is cited and nearly a third of what is published.
3,000 journals produce 80% of published articles and 95% of cited articles.
2,200 journals evaluated annually
15% accepted

13. Why this approach to journal coverage?
First – Why is it that Thomson Scientific performs extensive journal “evaluations” to determine the content of its indexes?
Why this approach to journal coverage?
From the beginning, it was determined by ISI founder Dr. Eugene Garfield that ISI journal indexes would present a select body of the world’s scholarly journals – those which display a significant level of international influence within their respective disciplines of study.

14. Journal Evaluations - Traditional
The Components:
Basic Journal Publishing Standards
Editorial Content
Citation Analysis
Notes:
We are “publisher-neutral”, no special consideration is given to a particular publisher. Commercial, academic, open-access, etc. – all publishers are treated the same with regard to individual journal evaluations.
Journal evaluations are “discipline-specific”, meaning that we only make comparisons of journals publishing research within the same subject category. In the Social Sciences, ISI utilizes between 50 and 60 subject categories.

15. ISI Journal Evaluations - Traditional
The Components:
Basic Journal Publishing Standards
Editorial Content
Timeliness of Publication – the ability to meet a pre-established publication schedule. This is very important, and is the reason why we typically examine three subsequently published issues at minimum, and often more.
International Publishing Conventions – complete bibliographic information for journals, articles, and cited references.
Peer Review
English language article titles, abstracts, and keywords are highly desirable – in order to reach the widest possible audience.
Citation Analysis

16. ISI Journal Evaluations - Traditional
The Components:
Basic Journal Publishing Standards
Editorial Scope
-- topics covered. Desirable?
-- the nature of overall content (original papers, review articles, “methods” papers, etc.)
-- appropriate intellectual level
International Diversity of Editors and Authors – diversity is a very positive aspect as it serves to globalize the collection.
Editorial Content
Citation Analysis
Subjective considerations are important here.
Essentially -- “What does this journal bring to the ISI database, to our collection of influential titles?”

17. ISI Journal Evaluations - Traditional
The Components:
Basic Journal Publishing Standards
Editorial Content
Journal Level – if the journal has been in existence for several years, a citation history will be available. This of course can be extremely valuable to the process. Measure of overall Citations, and approximate Impact Factor and Immediacy Index would be typical statistics utilized.
Authors and Editors – an examination of individual citation histories for authors and editors is quite important, and in the case of a new journal is the only indication of the potential citation influence of that publication.
Citation Analysis

18. …Journal Selection Citation Analysis Crystallography
Fewer Articles, Fewer Citations
Biotechnology, Genetics
Many Articles, Many Citations
Social Sciences and Arts & Humanities
Slow citation growth
Life Sciences
Rapid citation growth

19. Going Forward... ISI Journal Evaluations - Traditional The Components:
Basic Journal Publishing Standards
Comparing Results and Making Selections
Journals under evaluation are compared to journals that are already covered in the ISI database as well as other journals under evaluation – again this is done within the realm of specific subject categories.
In consideration of all factors, we look to include journals that display a clear level of influence as well as enhancing the subject coverage of the ISI database.
Editorial Content
Citation Analysis
Going Forward...

20. Citation Analysis ... Journal Selection - Established Journals
Impact Factor:
…the average number of times recent articles in a journal were cited in a particular year.

21. Emerging Infectious Diseases
... Journal Selection
Citation Analysis
Emerging Infectious Diseases
2004 Impact factor:

22. Journal Citation Reports (JCR) Impact Factor Calculation
Journal: Emerging Infectious Diseases
Impact Factor: 5.643
Cites in 2004 to articles published in :
= 1,577
= 1,572
= 3,149
Number of articles published in: = = =
Calculation:
Cites to recent articles ,149 =
Number of recent articles

23. Journal Citation Reports (JCR) -- Science Edition
Journal: Emerging Infectious Diseases
Impact Factor: 5.643
Self citation rate: %
279 self citations / 3,149 Cites (02+03)
Journal of Original Research
374 articles published in 2004
371 Original Research Papers
3 Review Articles
Open Access Journal

24. …Journal Selection
Citation Analysis
Self Citations:
80% of all journals listed in the JCR Science Edition have self-citation rates of less than 20%.
Excessive self-citation weakens the integrity of the journal’s Impact Factor.
We look at self citation. If it is very high, it indicated a journal that either is very specialized, or it is indicative of a problem

25. A Brief Check List of Points to Remember for WoS Indexing
Please study various articles and essays recommended
TR will need three (3) consecutive, current issues, as they are published, for any evaluation.
Electronic Journal: provide full access information for any electronic title.
Print Journal:
Establish an ongoing, complimentary subscription to the title for Thomson Reuters
Send the most current issue of the journal
Forward each subsequent issue as soon as each is published to the following address:
Thomson Reuters ATTN: Publication Processing 1500 Spring Garden Street Fourth Floor Philadelphia, PA USA
Provide a cover letter introducing your journal with the following information.
Full Journal Title
ISSN
Publisher's Name and Address
Editor's Name and Address
Brief statement on the unique features of the journal and how it is distinguished from other journals in the field.

26. Visit the Thomson Scientific Web site at http://www.isinet.com
Free Essays
Journal Selection Essay
There are also essays and explanations on the Impact Factor.

27. How to Get Indexed in SCOPUS

28. What is the challenge? Guess, what do these numbers stand for?
Every day 5 titles are suggested to be added to Scopus …
Ove Kähler
Sr. Product Manager

29. Where to draw the “Line of Relevance”?

30. Scopus content has to address a diversity of needs …
Researcher: “I want to make sure that all citations to all my papers are being captured.”
Librarian: “I want to provide my users with an all-science database, which indexes all relevant content.”
Research manager: ”I want to have a complete picture of the scientific output of my university/country.”
Editor: “I want to track hot topics and see, how my journal is doing.”

31. Content Selection by CSAB (Content Selection & Advisory Board)
Please Read the Statement by CSAB on Advice to journal editors and publishers: Securing accession for a journal to Scopus
Suggest a Title
Review by the independent and international CSAB

32. Minimum Suggestion Criteria
The title should have peer reviewed content
The title should be published on a regular basis (have a ISSN number that has been registered with the International ISSN Centre)
The content should be relevant and readable for an international audience (for example have English language abstracts and references in Roman script)
The title should have a publication ethics and publication malpractice statement

33. Selection Criteria

34. Some Comments by a CSAB Member (Dr. keyvan Kousha)
Main Indicators
Content measures
Citations to journal, quality of abstract, etc
Structural issues
Iranian Medical research: Good Impression on Reviewers
Pitfalls:
Quality of abstract- This is the first thing reviewers read and decide on the journal. At least one reviewer stressed that Iranian journals are relatively good in the region but they have poor abstract.
Citation of editor – chief editor should be highly productive and cited person.
Including international editorial board
Website

35. Scoring system:
20 criteria in
5 categories

36. Let’s apply the scoring system to two psychology journals,
both published in Eastern Europe, both started in 2005 …
Journal A
Journal B

37. 25% of overall score 23.1% 14.5% Category 1– Journal policy Journal A
Good editorial concept; convincing description of single-blind peer-review process; diversity among authors/editors.
23.1%
Journal B
Not very convincing editorial concept; no information about peer-review found; no international diversity among authors/editors.
14.5%

38. 20% of overall score 13.8% 11.3% Category 2 – Presentation of Content
Journal A
Substantial contribution to field.
13.8%
Journal B
Most papers cite exclusively Russian authors, i.e. do not take into account international research.
11.3%

39. 35% of overall score 26.3% 0% Category 3 – Citedness Journal A
79% of all published articles have been cited >1. H-index of leading editors is 12.
26.3%
Journal B
Neither editors nor journal has received any citations in Scopus. 0%

40. 10% of overall score 10.0% 5.0% Category 4 – Timeliness Journal A
Most recent issue as expected.
10.0%
Journal B
Publishing quarterly; last published issue six months before spotcheck (i.e. Dec 2008 vs Jun 2009).
5.0%

41. 10% of overall score 9.5% 7.0% Category 5 – Accessibility Journal A
Homepage fully in English; good quality of homepage.
9.5%
Journal B
Homepage partly in English; fair quality of homepage.
7.0%

42. Result: The scoring system supports the reviewer in his task to position the two journals towards the “line of relevance”
Journal A
Journal B
Reviewer:
accept journal
Reviewer:
reject journal

43. How do the Subject Panels and the scoring work in practice?
... all is based on the Scopus Title Evaluation Platform (STEP)

44. … http://suggestor.step.scopus.com/index.cfm Suggest a title Suggestor
interface
Admin
interface
Ask publishers to provide extra information and PDF’s
Reviewer
interface …

45. Titles submitted for review per year

46. How Can I Improve My Journal?
Active recruitment of high-impact articles by courting researchers
Offering authors better services
Boosting the journal’s media profile
More careful article selection

47. Thank you!