The indexing of a scientific article in global scientometric databases, such as Scopus and Web of Science, is an important process that determines the visibility and citation of the article in the academic community. The terms of article indexing in these services depend on many factors. Let's analyze the nuances of research indexing in Scopus and Web of Science.
Features of indexing an article in Scopus
Scopus is one of the largest and authoritative databases of scientific content, and the process of indexing scientific documents in it can take months. This is due to the strict criteria of journal and article verification by the independent editorial committee of the scientometric database.
The process of research indexing in Scopus takes place in several stages:
Stage 1.Publication of the article in the journal, after which the material will be sent for indexing in the Scopus system.
Stage 2.Checking and processing of the study by the service. The metadata and content of the study are checked and evaluated. At this stage, errors in design or inconsistencies with database requirements may be detected, which may slow down the process or result in denial of indexing.
Stage 3. Indexing. Authors can independently monitor the process and clarify the status of their work in the Scopus database. To do this, it is necessary to enter the personal data of the researcher or the title of the article in the system search.
Possible problems with indexing an article in Scopus
An important aspect to consider when choosing a journal is its stability. Issues should be published regularly, the quality of published articles should be consistently high, and the journal's indexing in Scopus should be valid. Problems in the journal's work can negatively affect the speed and success of article indexing.
Failure to comply with the technical requirements for article design, established by the journal editorial office and Scopus service, (citation style, bibliographic list, metadata, etc.), as well as unprofessional translation of the research into English may cause the denial of indexing.
Terms of article indexing in Scopus
The indexing period of a paper in a scientometric database varies on average from 3 to 6 months. This depends on many factors, among them:
- quartile category
- journal percentile
- the subject on which the journal specializes
- editorial policy and procedure for reviewing articles
- number of authors.
Features of article indexing in Web of Science
Web of Science is one of the most prestigious databases of scientific publications. Editorial decisions are made by experienced in-house editors who are not affiliated with publishers or research institutes, which excludes any potential bias or conflict of interest. Therefore, the process of vetting scientific content before inclusion in the system is lengthy and rigorous.
The process of indexing an article in Web of Science has a number of peculiarities that are important to take into account. The indexing procedure consists of the following stages:
Stage 1. Identical to the Scopus database, after publication in the journal, the article is sent for indexing in Web of Science. The process is initiated by the journal, the author cannot control this procedure, but can monitor the status of indexing.
Stage 2. Verification of the quality of the research by the editorial committee. Important aspects are the originality of the research, scientific significance, and compliance with the standards of the scientometric database.
Stage 3. Directly indexing the article in Web of Science. The status of the article can be checked independently in the author's profile or in the platform search.
Problems that may hinder the indexing of an article in Web of Science
- incorrectly filled in metadata and incorrect formatting - errors in metadata or formatting of the paper may lead to delays or rejection of the article for indexing
- poor quality translation into English: research without translation according to journal standards may be rejected during the review by Web of Science specialists.
- absence of mandatory data: author's name, surname, abstract, title orlist of references.
Terms of article indexing in Web of Science
The average time period for indexing an article in WoS varies from 3 to 6 months. In some cases, especially for new journals, the process can take up to six months.
The global databases Scopus and Web of Science are characterized by a complex article indexing procedure. If this is the first time you publish a paper in journals peer-reviewed by these services, you are likely to face a number of difficulties. The experts at Scientific Publications can help you through all the stages from submission to indexing your article in a scientometric database quickly and without unnecessary headaches. To learn more about our services, leave a request on the website.
