Every researcher faces the task of publishing scientific articles if he or she wants to successfully develop a career as a scientist. The first place to start is to choose a scientometric database in which a potential journal for publication is indexed. Which database is better to choose depends on the research topic and scientific goal of the author. Today we will talk about the two most popular platforms for publishing scientific papers - Scopus and Web of Science.
Scopus scientometric database
Scopus is a global scientometric database (DB) including scientific journals, books and conference proceedings. The service accommodates large volumes of information: articles, abstracts and cited scientific literature. The platform was created by Elsevier in the fall of 2004. Now the database is one of the most authoritative and visited in scientific circles.
Since the launch of the platform, the metric indicators have grown significantly. In terms of quantitative indicators, the service shows impressive results: today the international Scopus database contains more than 19.6 million author profiles and more than 94 million articles.
Publication in Scopus is considered a prestigious achievement for a scientist, as the editorial board sets high requirements for scientific papers. Only the most high-quality, interesting and relevant ones are peer-reviewed and will be indexed in the system.
Web of Science scientific database
Web of Science is a large-scale citation database of peer-reviewed scientific literature, which includes scientific papers since 1900. The platform covers all fields of science and is considered one of the largest and most prestigious in the world. WoS is a huge database of world citations based on the legacy of Eugene Garfield, PhD, the creator of the world's first citation index for research literature.
Today, the Web of Science platform contains more than 161 million articles that have been indexed and more than 28 million author profiles.
A thorough and independent editorial process ensures the selection of publishers with high-quality articles. The scientometric platform provides strong information support for collecting, analyzing and more comprehensive approach to scientific discoveries.
Which database is better to choose for publication: Scopus or Web of Science?
It is impossible to state unequivocally that one database is superior to the other, as Scopus and Web of Science complement each other rather than compete with each other. Nevertheless, there are significant differences between them.
Which platform is better to choose - the decision should be made solely by the author. We have prepared a comparative table of these two services to systematize the main parameters.
|
Scopus |
Comparison criteria |
Web of Science |
|
Social sciences account for the largest number of publications. Other fields of science are also represented: medicine and health, natural sciences, engineering, humanities, computer sciences and interdisciplinary studies. |
Science fields |
Research in the natural sciences accounts for the largest number of publications. Other scientific fields: engineering and technology, medicine and health, social sciences and humanities, interdisciplinary research. |
|
Number of indexed articles - more than 94 million; Number of researcher profiles - more than 19.6 million; Number of citations - more than 2.4 billion citations |
Key metrics |
Number of indexed articles - more than 161 million; Number of researcher profiles - more than 28 million; Number of citations - more than 1.5 billion citations |
|
330 |
Number of disciplines |
254 |
|
CiteScore, h-Index, SNIP, SJR. |
Main indexing metrics |
SCIE, SSCI, AHCI. |
|
From 14 to 90 days. Indexation of scientific papers is faster. |
Time of article indexing |
From 20 to 90 days. More rigorous article indexing process. |
|
Scopus Preview provides free familiarization with some features of the platform, as well as access to a part of scientific articles. |
Cost of access to the database |
Payment of subscription is mandatory to get the full functionality of searching articles, authors and journals. |
There are also scientific journals that are double indexed and reviewed both in Scopus and Web of Science.
If you are experiencing a dilemma of choice - publication in Scopus or in Web of Science - we will be glad to advise and help you choose a database and periodical. Leave a request on the website, and we will contact you as soon as possible.
