Everyone who has at least once faced publication in the international databases Scopus or Web of Science knows that it is a complicated process that takes quite a lot of time. After submitting materials to the editorial board of the rating journals indexed by the services, there may be delays in placing articles for a number of reasons. Today we will talk about the main reasons that can make the process of waiting for publication longer.
The main stages of publishing a scientific paper in the scientific metrics databases Scopus and Web of Science
The procedure of placing an article in the scientific metrics platforms consists of several key stages:
- Selection of a suitable journal. The publication must be appropriate to the field of study and the topic of the article, otherwise submissions may be rejected by the editorial board
- Submitting a research paper to the journal's editorial board. Rated publications with high citation rates set strict requirements for incoming materials. It is necessary to pay special attention to the standards for the design of scientific papers, which the publication adheres to. Otherwise, the article may be sent for revision or rejected altogether.
- evaluation of the article by the reviewers of the publication. The review process in journals with international status can take a long period of time. The success of this stage depends on compliance with the standards and requirements set by the editorial board.
- indexing the article in the database. The last, but no less important stage is the indexing of the research on the Scopus and Web of Science platforms. Only after successful indexing of the work can the process of publishing an article in the scientific databases be considered complete.
Terms of article publication in Scopus and Web of Science
The terms of publication of a scientific article in the international databases Scopus and Web of Science take from 6 to 9 months - according to the latest trends for 2023-2024. In some cases, the waiting period can increase to 12 months or more, depending on the workload of reviewers and the number of papers submitted to the editorial office. Rating publications set high standards for the materials posted, involve the best reviewers and editors, set a limited number of articles in the issues, so the review and publication terms may be longer than in publications with average influence indicators.
The main reasons for delaying publication in Scopus and Web of Science
The most common reasons for prolongation of the waiting time for article placement in Scopus and Web of Science services include:
Incorrect execution of the application for publication placement
The first stage of publication is submission of documents to the editorial office. Any inaccuracies and errors in filling in the personal data of the author or metadata of the article can create difficulties later on at the stage of indexing of the scientific work.
Scientific review
The longest of the stages, which most often delays the moment of publication. It depends on a large number of factors, as well as on the selected database. Statistically, the publication period in the Web of Science (WoS) service is slightly shorter than on the Scopus platform.
Reviewers are experienced researchers who have at least three publications over the last three years in a particular field of knowledge. The search for reviewers on the subject of the research, as well as the heavy workload of experts increases the timeframe for the evaluation of a scientific paper. The review period can also be affected by different opinions of several experts. In this case, third parties are involved in the process of evaluating the work - another reason to delay publication.
In addition, due to the complexity of the research topic, there may be difficulties in finding reviewers. Not every reputable scientist has enough time to evaluate the works of other authors, especially if he/she is active in scientific publishing.
Incorrect translation of a scientific paper into English
Another important aspect that requires special attention is the translation of the paper into quality English. Often scholars with an average level of English and above decide to translate their work themselves. Unfortunately, such works will be rejected with a 90% probability. To avoid publication delays due to incorrect translations, we recommend paying special attention to this issue.
Formatting and structuring of the paper
Banal, non-compliance of the article with the requirements and standards for the design of scientific papers can be a strong argument for rejection of the publication. Do not neglect these nuances at the initial stage, so as not to prolong the waiting period for the placement of the article in journals.
Unresolved topic and idea of the research paper
Poor quality research can be a reason for rejection of a paper by editors and reviewers. Scopus and Web of Science are the most influential platforms in the scientific space. The services set strict requirements and criteria for the selection of scientific materials and publications. Works without scientific novelty, research relevance, incomplete and unstructured logically will not be accepted by the editors of the journals included in the databases.
How to speed up the process of publishing in Scopus and WoS?
We have prepared the main recommendations that will help scientists to reduce the waiting period for the placement of their articles in scientometric databases:
- Articles should be translated into quality academic English. We recommend using translation services of native speakers.To protect your research paper from long review times from the outset, choose fields of science where the review period is shorter. For example, review is faster for research in the mathematical, physical, and chemical sciences. The longest delays are observed for research in the social sciences, humanities, and business sciences.
- Follow all the standards and requirements of the journal's editorial board for the design of articles, so that the review stage can be completed as quickly as possible.
- Familiarize yourself in advance with the legal and banking system of the country to which the payment for publication will be sent. The nuances of money transfer should be taken into account at the stage of payment so that the difficulties of financial transfer do not affect the timing of publication
By following these tips, you can minimize the possibility of a lengthy review or rejection of a scientific article.
To completely eliminate the possibility of complications in the publication process, the best solution is to contact a science consulting company for science and scientometrics. Scientific Publications has been providing science consulting services to scientists around the world for over 8 years. With us publication in Scopus and Web of Science will have 100% guarantee. Leave a request on the website and we will contact you within a business day.
