Web of Science is one of the most reputable international databases that provides access to millions of scientific publications in various fields of knowledge. Its citation indices play a key role in tracking scientific progress, assessing the impact of research, and creating links between the work of scientists. These indices cover journals, conference proceedings, and books, providing researchers with access to a wealth of information. In this article, we'll discuss the main Web of Science citation indices, their features, and their importance for modern science.
What are citation indices in Web of Science?
Web of Science citation indices – are tools that track and measure how many times a particular article, author, or publication has been cited by other works in the Web of Science database. It is part of a broader system known as the Web of Science Core Collection, which covers a huge number of scientific journals, books, and conference proceedings in various disciplines.
For example, when a researcher publishes an article, other researchers can refer to it in their work. The citation index counts these citations and links them to the original article. This way, researchers can assess the impact of their publication: numerous citations indicates the importance of a particular work in the scientific community.
Web of Science includes several citation indices, such as:
- Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE): covers the natural sciences and engineering.
- Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI): focuses on the social sciences.
- Arts & Humanities Citation Index (AHCI): tracks citations in the arts and humanities.
- Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI): includes newer or lesser-known journals.
Citation indices: what is the difference?
1. Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE)
Science Citation Index Expanded covers 9,461 journals in 180 scientific disciplines. It is worth noting that this index includes publications from 1900 to the present day, allowing you to trace the evolution of scientific thought over more than a century.
A unique feature of the SCIE is that it captures all citations from indexed articles, creating a network of links between studies. For example, a scientist studying biotechnology can easily find how his or her work resonates with advances in chemistry or medicine.
The main disciplines in which SCIE specialises are:
- astronomy
- biochemistry
- biology
- biotechnology;
- chemistry
- computer science;
- mathematics
- medicine
- neuroscience;
- physics.
2. Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI)
For social science researchers, the Social Sciences Citation Index offers access to 3,547 journals from 47 disciplines in the social sciences. The first publications covered by this index, as in the case of SCIE, also date back to 1900.
In addition, the SSCI includes selective materials from more than 3,500 scientific and technical journals if they are relevant to the social sciences. This allows researchers, for example, to analyse the impact of technology on society or the relationship between economics and healthcare.
The main disciplines in which SSCI specialises are:
- anthropology
- history
- law
- linguistics
- philosophy
- political science;
- psychology;
- sociology;
- health care
- women's studies.
3. Arts & Humanities Citation Index (A&HCI)
The Arts & Humanities Citation Index focuses on the literature of the arts and humanities, indexing more than 1,818 journals in 25 disciplines. The first publications date back to 1975.
This index is indispensable for those who study cultural phenomena or historical contexts, allowing them to trace how ideas in the arts intersect with other fields of knowledge.
The main disciplines that A&HCI specialises in are:
- archaeology;
- art
- history
- literature
- music
- philosophy;
- poetry;
- religion;
- theatre;
- linguistics.
4. Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI)
The Emerging Sources Citation Index is somewhat different from the ones we have described above. Launched in 2015, the ESCI is one of the youngest Web of Science indexes, covering scientific literature dating back to 2005. Its focus is on new, specialised or regional journals that have not yet been included in the main indices but already demonstrate scientific value.
The index includes publications in all disciplines, from the sciences to the humanities. ESCI increases the visibility of young publications and helps them on their way to global recognition.
Specialised Web of Science citation indices are a valuable resource for scientists. They not only simplify the search for research within a particular discipline, but also allow them to track how often their own work is cited. In this way, they can assess how relevant the topics for their research papers are, as well as which topics are the most relevant in the scientific field.
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