Publishing in journals indexed in international databases is an important aspect of researchers’ work. In particular, such articles contribute to increasing international visibility and building a professional reputation. How can one choose a reliable publication in Web of Science and which recommendations should be followed? Read on.
How to find a journal in Web of Science?
One of the key tools that help simplify the search for a publication in Web of Science is the Master Journal List. This resource should be used as the main source of verification, not only the journal’s own website.
A reliable way to verify a journal in the Master Journal List is to search by its ISSN or eISSN. This will help avoid confusion caused by similar journal titles. After this, attention should also be paid to:
- the journal’s subject area
- country
- publisher
- current indexing status of the journal in Web of Science
How to check the quality of a journal?
If a publication is included in Web of Science, this means that it has already passed verification for editorial integrity, content quality, process transparency and compliance with standards. According to Clarivate policy, any journal that does not meet the 24 quality criteria will be removed from the core collection of the database.
Despite the high standards of the platform, a scientist should still consider a number of important aspects before submitting an article, in particular:
- the correspondence of the journal’s profile to the topic of the article
- the types of articles that the publication usually publishes
- the transparency of the editorial policy
- the specifics of the peer review process
- a possible sharp and unnatural increase in the number of published articles
Which journal indicators are important for a scientist?
When choosing a journal for article submission, scientometric indicators are important aspects. They help assess the authority of a publication in a specific field and its influence in the scientific community. Among the key metrics, the following can be highlighted:
- Journal Impact Factor (JIF). This is one of the main indicators in WoS, which usually demonstrates the average number of citations of journal articles over two years.
- Journal Citation Indicator (JCI). This metric reflects the normalised level of journal citation compared with the average indicator of the relevant scientific field.
- Quartile (Q). This indicator is determined on the basis of the journal’s position within a specific subject category in Journal Citation Reports. Quartile rankings are formed according to the journal’s rank by Journal Impact Factor. Based on their position in the ranking, journals are divided into four groups – Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4.
We also recommend paying attention to which Web of Science Core Collection index the journal is included in. Among the main ones are:
- SCIE – natural, technical or medical fields
- SSCI – social sciences
- AHCI – arts and humanities
- ESCI – publications that meet WoS criteria but have not yet been included in the main citation indexes
Typical mistakes made by researchers
Researchers often rely only on the information provided on the official website of the journal. However, all important data should additionally be checked through the Master Journal List.
Sometimes scientists ignore the potential risks of a publication. Unclear editorial policy, suspiciously fast peer review, an excessive number of issues or the publication of articles from completely different fields may be a signal for additional verification.
It is also not worth focusing only on the impact factor or journal quartile. All metrics should be considered together, not separately, as this will make the conclusions more objective.
Therefore, searching for a publication in Web of Science is a complex process that requires taking into account a number of important aspects. However, if a scientist pays significant attention to this stage and also takes all recommendations into account, they will be able to avoid difficulties when submitting an article.
Do you need help with publishing in journals in the Web of Science database? Contact the company Scientific Publications. Our specialists will help you choose a reliable publication and will support you throughout the entire publication process. Fill in the form below, and our manager will contact you shortly. Together towards successful publications!
