Choosing the most relevant journal for publication in Scopus and Web of Science is an important stage in the work on a scientific paper, which involves deep analytics. It is necessary to figure out which journal is the most suitable in terms of subject area, scientometric characteristics, when the issue is planned to be released, and whether the journal meets all the requirements of publication ethics. The choice is complicated by the fact that tens of thousands of scientific sources are indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. Let us consider how to choose a journal for publication.
1. Legal requirements
The first step in choosing a journal for publication in Scopus and Web of Science is a careful study of all regulatory requirements at the legislative level. For the implementation of each scientific goal, e.g., awarding scientific titles, awarding degrees, obtaining funding, etc., the requirements for the number of publications and the necessary scientometric indicators of publications are clearly spelled out. Therefore, the selection of a journal must begin from this stage.
2. Scopus and Web of Science: selecting a database
An essential point is also the choice of the database, the journals of which the scientist will rely on when planning the publication. Scopus and Web of Science are different platforms, so there are some specific features of working with each of them. For example, Web of Science focuses on more exact sciences, while Scopus focuses on the humanities. In addition, within these databases, there are specific metrics for evaluating publications and much more. These are very subtle points but understanding them increases the chances of a successful publication.
3. Research topic
Domain relevance is a basic requirement for submitting material to scientific journals, including those indexed in Scopus and Web of Science. But the category “discipline” or “field of study” is quite broad. It is worth studying individual issues of a scientific journal to determine which subject areas it specialises in. This advice is particularly relevant for specialised journals.
4. Indexing in the database
Before submitting a paper to a journal for publication, it is imperative to check whether it is indexed in the Scopus or Web of Science database. This is a basic sign of dishonest activity.
5. Journal metrics
It is also necessary to check the performance of the journal for publication, especially if the implementation of the researcher’s scientific goals depends on it. The basic metrics are “quartile” and “percentile”. Moreover, you can use information about SNIP, SJR, CiteScore – in Scopus; JIF, JCI – in Web of Science; the percentage of acceptance of materials for publication – the indicator is often calculated by the journal itself. Based on these metrics and their comprehensive analysis, it is possible to assess the “behaviour” of the publication, its rating and whether it conducts fair business.
6. Journal’s website
An added source in evaluating a scientific journal is its official page, as well as social media profiles (if any). At this stage, you can determine the specific features of the publication and what requirements it puts forward to the authors of the studies.
7. Requirements for a scientific article in Scopus and Web of Science
It is worth elaborating here because the journals indexed in Scopus and Web of Science put forward serious conditions for the quality of the material, the review period in such journals is very lengthy. All this information is posted on the journal’s website.
Furthermore, there are specific requirements for the necessary technical issues, as well as a list of documents necessary for submitting an article. Pay attention to this before submitting and verify your article again
8. Business model and payment
There are several business models for journals that are indexed in Scopus and Web of Science, it depends on who pays the publication fee and how much. Often, journals can make provision for many models, so before submitting, it is worth determining exactly which of them the scientist is oriented towards.
As for payment, it is worth taking note of the nature of the contributions, e.g., sometimes a “Submission Fee” is provided – payment for experts reviewing the paper without guarantees of publishing.
Moreover, be especially careful when transferring funds to foreign accounts, consider the specifics of banking and payment systems.
9. Fallbacks
The specialists at Scientific Publications recommend, apart from the main journal for submission, to identify several alternative ones. This will save time in case of rejection of publication or if the review period is extremely long and the author decides to withdraw the article.
Important to remember! It is forbidden to submit an article to several journals at once!
10. Work automation
Additionally, specialised automated services can help in choosing a journal for publication. The selection process according to this model is elementary – you need to enter the metadata of your paper and the services will select journals for publication.
It is worth considering that this method should not be abused because platforms do not consider all the specific features of journals, but only carry out minimal analytics for the required subject area.
The following services are founded by the largest publishing houses: Elsevier , Springer , Wiley , Taylor & Francis.
We hope that these tips will help researchers through the arduous process of choosing a journal and contribute to the achievement of scientific goals. For any clarifications regarding “Publishing in Scopus” or “Publishing in Web of Science”, please contact the specialists at Scientific Publications. We are very attentive to this stage of the publication process, we analyse over 200 practical options, we communicate with representatives of the journal and publishing houses. You are guaranteed to get published in the rated and most relevant journal.
We are always glad to cooperate with you!
