Journal rankings are formed according to various scientometric indicators depending on the quality of the research material, citations, and prominence in the subject area. One of the most significant metrics within the Scopus and Web of Science databases is the quartile. Often, the requirements for this indicator are prescribed at the regulatory level to fulfil certain scientific goals. Therefore, it is particularly important for researchers to understand its specifics and how to determine a journal's quartile in Scopus and Web of Science.
What is a quartile?
The indicator shows the influence of the publication in databases and the level of popularity among the corresponding indexing category. Journals are divided into 4 roughly equal groups depending on the bibliometric indicators:
- Q1 (first quartile) is the highest ranking; publication in such journals is considered a very significant achievement for scientists.
- Q2 (second quartile) - journals are not as highly ranked as Q1, but are nevertheless recognised as highly influential among researchers.
- Q3 (third quartile) - these are the most popular journals among academics, as they have sufficient ranking for most scientific purposes.
- Q4 (fourth quartile) – publication in such journals also has a positive effect on the image of the researcher. In most cases, these journals have only recently been included in the database.
Quartile indicators are calculated in all the largest databases, depending on the quality of the journal and the number of citations. The ranking is updated every year, after the regular revision of the metrics. The indicator is calculated for each subject category.
How to find the quartile of a journal in Scopus?
- Use the "Sources" feature of Scopus. This takes the user to a page with all the base journals.
- After that, select the filters to search for the journal, for example, the subject area. It is also possible to limit the search by the minimum of citations, documents, source type, and quartile.
Scopus database quartile in Scimago
The Scopus quartile data is also available to view on the Scimago Journal & Country Rank.
- Enter the name of the journal, ISSN or publisher.
- Select a journal.
- Click on the page for more information on the journal and its indicators. At the bottom of the page is a table detailing the quartile metric.
It is also worth paying attention to the fact that in some cases the quartile indicators in Scopus and Scimago may differ. This is attributed to the specifics of calculating metrics on these platforms. This poses the question of what researcher should lean towards. The answer is to be found in the publication requirements. In most cases, it will specify which platform's metrics to follow. Previously, quartile scores in Scopus were calculated using SJR, with information transferred to the Scimago service.
How to find the quartile of the Web of Science (WoS) journal?
- It is possible to determine the WoS journal's quartile through Journal Citation Reports (JCR). This is a separate platform where information about the indicators of journals is posted. Use the search feature.
- After that, select the "Rank" tab. This is where the detailed information about the journal can be found.
In the Web of Science database, quartile ranking is based on the impact factor of the journal. A journal must be listed in the Web of Science Core Collection: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) or Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) to be eligible.
Note!
Journals might have more than one quartile score. Journals of this type publish material from a variety of subjects. A good example is the above-mentioned "International Journal of Performance Arts and Digital Media", which has two quartiles for two different subjects - Q1 for Visual Arts and Performing Arts (Arts and Humanities) and Q2 for Communication"(Social Sciences).
The same applies to double-indexed journals. The indicators will vary depending on the specific database.
We recommend referring to the quartiles quoted in the official records of the international databases and not those of the journal's websites. Unfortunately, scientific journals can sometimes violate publication ethics. There are predatory publishers, clone journals or outright frauds who knowingly provide false information on scientometric indicators. Therefore, it is important to verify the information with official sources.
Selecting a journal for publication is one of the most important stages of working with scientific materials, which should not be neglected in any case. Before submitting an article to the publisher, pay attention to the journal's indicators and check the information on their website. Publication in a low-quality journal will bring reputational losses for researchers and will not be a professional achievement.
Scientific Publications has been a market leader in scientific consultancy for many years, specialising in publications in Scopus and publications in Web of Science. We focus on a comprehensive approach and provide support throughout the whole process up to indexation. Our experts will help you select a quality journal for publication and comply with all the necessary regulatory requirements, conduct a free audit, determine the degree of revision required, assist in structuring the study and provide a professional academic translation.
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