How to Get your Journal Indexed in WoS and SCOPUS

1. How to Get your Journal Indexed in WoS and SCOPUS October 29, 2011 Dr. Mehrdad Fahimi Integrated Information Network

2. Background Ministry of Health and Medical Education’s Initiative to get Medical Journals Indexed in Major A&I databases Level of Medical Research International Exposure International Collaboration Funding

3. Comparison: Thomson Reuters (12000) • Iran: 38 journals indexed in WoS • About 22 in Medicine • Turkey: 74 journals indexed in WoS • About 40 in Medicine

4. Comparison: Elsevier (Scopus)all subjects (18,500) • Iran: 88 journals indexed • Turkey: 188 journals indexed

5. How to Get Indexed in WoS

6. The Thomson Reuters Editorial process The Foundation In-house Editorial Development Specialists – ongoing detailed journal evaluation and selection processes. Sciences – to 1900, A Century of Science Social Sciences – to 1945 Arts & Humanities – to 1975 Quality Diversity Depth Web of Science Coverage of over 250 disciplines in the Sciences, Social Sciences, and Arts & Humanities Comprehensive coverage in all disciplines. Journal selectivity, Cover-to-Cover Indexing, Diversity, Consistency, Depth. Author Cited References for over 110 years Unique Data Superior Collection Development

7. Thomson Scientific Editorial Development • Our Goal • Build and maintain a multidisciplinary collection of world’s most important and influential international and regional journals. • Professional librarians, information specialists, graduate degrees in science or humanities. • When are journals evaluated for coverage? • On an ongoing basis throughout the year. Journal Selection Process Objective Applied consistently to ALL publishers Credible

8. Comprehensive Coverage and Consistent Indexing • Cover to cover Indexing assures no gaps in the literature • All document types applied consistently across all titles to ensure precise searching across disciplines • Capture all cited references to articles in covered journals and to articles in journals not covered. • ~40 million per year – consistently indexed – standardization • What does this mean for the users at your institutions? -- presentation of “the best” body of journal information within their areas of interest. • Undergraduates – the vast majority just don’t know enough about individual journals to make these determinations on their own. They may simply take whatever they find -- and in the Web of Science they find quality by default. • Graduates/PhDs – Requirea focus on what is most influential as their own academic intensity increases dramatically. They must quickly become familiar with the top publications of relevance to their studies. • Faculty – A multitude of benefits. • Efficient, Quality Current Awareness within their fields. • Citation-tracking capabilities across decades. • Where should I publish? – Web of Science journals are in fact the journals included within the Journal Citation Reports. • Research Administrators • What is the Impact of Funded Research and • Where should I continue to Invest

9. Editorial Development - Background • What is our Purpose? • Build and maintain a multidisciplinary collection of world’s most important and influential international and regional journals. • Who are we? • Professional librarians, information specialists, graduate degrees in science or humanities. • When are journals evaluated for coverage? • On an ongoing basis throughout the year.

10. Journal Selection Process • Objective • Applied consistently to ALL publishers • Credible Search >>> Measure >>> Evaluate

11. Web of Science - Journal Selection Process • Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) • Citation analysis • Self Citation Rate • Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) • Arts & Humanities Citation Index (A&HCI)

12. Journal Selection Process • Web of Science is comprehensive but not all inclusive. • Small number of journals publish the bulk of significantscientific results. • 300 journal produce more than half of what is cited and nearly a third of what is published. • 3,000 journals produce 80% of published articles and 95% of cited articles. • 2,200 journals evaluated annually • 15% accepted

13. First – Why is it that Thomson Scientific performs extensive journal “evaluations” to determine the content of its indexes? Why this approach to journal coverage? From the beginning, it was determined by ISI founder Dr. Eugene Garfield that ISI journal indexes would present a select body of the world’s scholarly journals – those which display a significant level of international influence within their respective disciplines of study.

14. Journal Evaluations - Traditional The Components: • Basic Journal Publishing Standards • Editorial Content • Citation Analysis Notes: We are “publisher-neutral”, no special consideration is given to a particular publisher. Commercial, academic, open-access, etc. – all publishers are treated the same with regard to individual journal evaluations. Journal evaluations are “discipline-specific”, meaning that we only make comparisons of journals publishing research within the same subject category. In the Social Sciences, ISI utilizes between 50 and 60 subject categories.

15. ISI Journal Evaluations - Traditional The Components: • Basic Journal Publishing Standards • Editorial Content • Timeliness of Publication – the ability to meet a pre-established publication schedule. This is very important, and is the reason why we typically examine three subsequently published issues at minimum, and often more. • International Publishing Conventions – complete bibliographic information for journals, articles, and cited references. • Peer Review • English language article titles, abstracts, and keywords are highly desirable – in order to reach the widest possible audience. • Citation Analysis

16. ISI Journal Evaluations - Traditional The Components: • Basic Journal Publishing Standards • Editorial Scope • -- topics covered. Desirable? • -- the nature of overall content (original papers, review articles, “methods” papers, etc.) • -- appropriate intellectual level • International Diversity of Editors and Authors – diversity is a very positive aspect as it serves to globalize the collection. • Editorial Content • Citation Analysis Subjective considerations are important here. Essentially -- “What does this journal bring to the ISI database, to our collection of influential titles?”

17. ISI Journal Evaluations - Traditional The Components: • Basic Journal Publishing Standards • Editorial Content • Journal Level – if the journal has been in existence for several years, a citation history will be available. This of course can be extremely valuable to the process. Measure of overall Citations, and approximate Impact Factor and Immediacy Index would be typical statistics utilized. • Authors and Editors – an examination of individual citation histories for authors and editors is quite important, and in the case of a new journal is the only indication of the potential citation influence of that publication. • Citation Analysis

18. …Journal Selection Citation Analysis • Crystallography • Fewer Articles, Fewer Citations • Biotechnology, Genetics • Many Articles, Many Citations • Social Sciences and Arts & Humanities • Slow citation growth • Life Sciences • Rapid citation growth

19. ISI Journal Evaluations - Traditional The Components: • Basic Journal Publishing Standards Comparing Results and Making Selections Journals under evaluation are compared to journals that are already covered in the ISI database as well as other journals under evaluation – again this is done within the realm of specific subject categories. In consideration of all factors, we look to include journals that display a clear level of influence as well as enhancing the subject coverage of the ISI database. • Editorial Content • Citation Analysis Going Forward...

20. ... Journal Selection Citation Analysis - Established Journals Impact Factor: …the average number of times recent articles in a journal were cited in a particular year.

21. ... Journal Selection Citation Analysis Emerging Infectious Diseases 2004 Impact factor: 5.643

22. Journal Citation Reports (JCR) Impact Factor Calculation Journal: Emerging Infectious Diseases Impact Factor: 5.643 Cites in 2004 to articles published in : 2003 = 1,577 2002 = 1,572 02 + 03 = 3,149 Number of articles published in: 2003 = 281 2002 = 277 02 + 03 = 558 Calculation: Cites to recent articles 3,149 = 5.643 Number of recent articles 558

23. Journal Citation Reports (JCR) -- Science Edition Journal: Emerging Infectious Diseases Impact Factor: 5.643 Self citation rate: 8.80% 279 self citations / 3,149 Cites (02+03) Journal of Original Research 374 articles published in 2004 • 371 Original Research Papers • 3 Review Articles Open Access Journal

24. …Journal Selection Citation Analysis Self Citations: • 80% of all journals listed in the JCR Science Edition have self-citation rates of less than 20%. • Excessive self-citation weakens the integrity of the journal’s Impact Factor. • We look at self citation. If it is very high, it indicated a journal that either is very specialized, or it is indicative of a problem

25. A Brief Check List of Points to Remember for WoS Indexing • Please study various articles and essays recommended • TR will need three (3) consecutive, current issues, as they are published, for any evaluation. • Electronic Journal: provide full access information for any electronic title. • Print Journal: • Establish an ongoing, complimentary subscription to the title for Thomson Reuters • Send the most current issue of the journal • Forward each subsequent issue as soon as each is published to the following address: Thomson Reuters ATTN: Publication Processing 1500 Spring Garden Street Fourth Floor Philadelphia, PA 19130 USA • Provide a cover letter introducing your journal with the following information. • Full Journal Title • ISSN • Publisher's Name and Address • Editor's Name and Address • Brief statement on the unique features of the journal and how it is distinguished from other journals in the field.

26. Visit the Thomson Scientific Web site at http://www.isinet.com Free Essays http://scientific.thomson.com/free/essays/ Journal Selection Essay http://scientific.thomson.com/free/essays/selectionofmaterial/journalselection/ There are also essays and explanations on the Impact Factor.

27. How to Get Indexed in SCOPUS

28. What is the challenge? Guess, what do these numbers stand for? Every day 5 titles are suggested to be added to Scopus … Ove Kähler Sr. Product Manager

29. Where to draw the “Line of Relevance”?

30. Scopus content has to address a diversity of needs … Researcher: “I want to make sure that all citations to all my papers are being captured.” Librarian: “I want to provide my users with an all-science database, which indexes allrelevant content.” Research manager: ”I want to have a complete picture of the scientific output of my university/country.” Editor: “I want to track hot topics and see, how my journal is doing.”

31. Content Selection by CSAB (Content Selection & Advisory Board) • Please Read the Statement by CSAB on Advice to journal editors and publishers: Securing accession for a journal to Scopus • http://www.info.sciverse.com/UserFiles/CSAB_statement_Advice_to_journal_editors_and_publishers.pdf • Suggest a Title • http://suggestor.step.scopus.com/suggestTitle.cfm • Review by the independent and international CSAB

32. Minimum Suggestion Criteria The title should have peer reviewed content The title should be published on a regular basis (have a ISSN number that has been registered with the International ISSN Centre) The content should be relevant and readable for an international audience (for example have English language abstracts and references in Roman script) The title should have a publication ethics and publication malpractice statement

33. Selection Criteria

34. Some Comments by a CSAB Member (Dr. keyvanKousha) • Main Indicators • Content measures • Citations to journal, quality of abstract, etc • Structural issues • Iranian Medical research: Good Impression on Reviewers • Pitfalls: • Quality of abstract- This is the first thing reviewers read and decide on the journal. At least one reviewer stressed that Iranian journals are relatively good in the region but they have poor abstract. • Citation of editor – chief editor should be highly productive and cited person. • Including international editorial board • Website

35. Scoring system: 20 criteria in 5 categories

36. Let’s apply the scoring system to two psychology journals, both published in Eastern Europe, both started in 2005 … Journal A Journal B

37. 25% of overall score Category 1– Journal policy Journal A Good editorial concept; convincing description of single-blind peer-review process; diversity among authors/editors. 23.1% Not very convincing editorial concept; no information about peer-review found; no international diversity among authors/editors. Journal B 14.5%

38. 20% of overall score Category 2 – Presentation of Content Journal A Substantial contribution to field. 13.8% Most papers cite exclusively Russian authors, i.e. do not take into account international research. Journal B 11.3%

39. 35% of overall score Category 3 – Citedness Journal A 79% of all published articles have been cited >1. H-index of leading editors is 12. 26.3% Neither editors nor journal has received any citations in Scopus. Journal B 0%

40. 10% of overall score Category 4 – Timeliness Journal A Most recent issue as expected. 10.0% Publishing quarterly; last published issue six months before spotcheck (i.e. Dec 2008 vs Jun 2009). Journal B 5.0%

41. 10% of overall score Category 5 – Accessibility Journal A Homepage fully in English; good quality of homepage. 9.5% Homepage partly in English; fair quality of homepage. Journal B 7.0%

42. Result: The scoring system supports the reviewer in his task to position the two journals towards the “line of relevance” Journal A Journal B Reviewer: accept journal Reviewer: reject journal

43. How do the Subject Panels and the scoring work in practice? ... all is based on the Scopus Title Evaluation Platform (STEP)

44. Suggest a title http://suggestor.step.scopus.com/index.cfm Suggestor interface Admin interface Ask publishers to provide extra information and PDF’s Reviewer interface …

45. Titles submitted for review per year

46. How Can I Improve My Journal? Active recruitment of high-impact articles by courting researchers Offering authors better services Boosting the journal’s media profile More careful article selection

47. Thank you!