In the scientific community, the main tools for assessing the impact of scientific journals are the JCR and SJR. They both provide important information about the level of authority of a publication, but they have significant differences in the assessment methodology and ranking approaches. In this article, we will look at the differences between JCR and SJR and how they can help you choose scientific journals for your publications and research.
What is a JCR?
Journal Citation Reports (JCR) – is an analytical tool developed by Clarivate Analytics for the comprehensive assessment of scientific journals in the global academic environment. It operates on the Web of Science platform and provides important information about publications in the natural and social sciences.
The main goal of the JCR is to provide detailed bibliometric indicators of scientific journals. One of the central elements is the Impact Factor, which is calculated as the average number of citations of journal articles over the previous two years.
JCR provides information on:
- Impact factor (IF) – the average number of citations of journal articles over the past two years.
- Quartiles – journals are classified by scientific categories and divided into quartiles, which allows to assess their place in the world scientific space.
- Eigenfactor Score – assesses the impact of a journal, taking into account the quality of citations and the reputation of sources.
- Article Influence Score – measures the average impact of journal articles over the first five years after publication.
What is SJR?
SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) – is an indicator that determines the prestige of a scientific journal in Scopus using a comprehensive approach to evaluating professional publications. It analyses not only the number of articles and citations, but also takes into account the specifics of the scientific field to which the journal belongs, as well as the authority of the publications that cite its articles.
The basis for calculating the SJR is the ratio of the number of citations for a given year to the number of articles published in the journal in the previous three years. At the same time, citations from more influential journals are given more weight than those from less reputable publications. The SJR also takes into account the relationships between journals in the citation network, giving preference to journals that actively cite each other.
It is worth noting that this indicator is used to determine the quartile of the journal indexed in the Scopus database. Journals are divided into four quartiles:
- Q1: Journals that are in the top 25% in their field have the highest level of influence and recognition.
- Q2: Journals that belong to the top 50% of the best journals in their field, with high ranking indicators.
- Q3: Reliable and reputable journals that are a good choice for publishing high-quality research.
- Q4: Predominantly young or narrowly focused journals that have not yet achieved a significant level of citation.
Main differences between JCR and SJR
| Criterion | JCR | SJR |
|---|---|---|
| Data sources and databases | Operates on the Web of Science platform. | Operates on the Scopus platform. |
| Evaluation methodology | Based on the impact factor, calculated as the average number of citations per article over the previous two years. | Assesses the journal’s influence by considering not only the number of citations but also the prestige of the citing sources. |
| Access to data | A paid tool available through a subscription to Web of Science. | A free tool accessible via the SCIMAGO Journal and Country Rank platform. |
| Coverage and specialization | Has separate versions for natural sciences and social sciences. | Does not have separate versions for fields, covering both scientific and social sciences. |
| Assessment criteria | Focuses on the number of citations over two years, emphasizing quantitative indicators. | Uses a more complex approach, accounting for relationships between journals, citations from more authoritative sources, and the overall impact on the academic community. |
In general, the main task of JCR and SJR is to assess the impact of a scientific journal. However, their analysis methodology differs. Each of these indicators has its own characteristics, and the choice between them depends on the needs of the researcher. It is important to keep in mind that the JCR is based on Web of Science data, while the SJR uses information from the Scopus database. Therefore, scientist should choose the tool that best suits your research objectives and the availability of the relevant database.
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