In the scientific environment, quartile is an important indicator used to assess the quality and impact of journals. Knowing the differences between quartiles helps scientists to choose where best to publish their articles. In this article, we will take a closer look at what quartiles of scientific journals are, how they differ, and the characteristics of each quartile.
What is a quartile?
Quartile – is a system for classifying scientific journals by the level of influence. It determines how popular and recognised a publication is in its field, based on scientometric indicators.
The Web of Science and Scopus databases use different methods to determine the quartile of a scientific journal:
- Web of Science: this database is the basis for the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) platform, which ranks scientific journals annually based on their quartiles. For this purpose, JIF (Journal Impact Factor) is used – one of the key indicators, which is calculated as the ratio of the number of citations of articles published in the journal in the last two years to the number of these articles. JIF is an important criterion in determining the scientific importance of a journal and its position in the ranking.
- Scopus: uses SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) and CiteScore. The SJR index evaluates journals taking into account not only the number of citations of their articles, but also the authority of the sources that refer to them. CiteScore, on the other hand, is calculated as the ratio of the number of citations received by a publication's articles over the previous 4 years to the number of papers published in it over the same 4-year period.
What types of quartiles exist?
The difference between quartiles Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4
Each quartile has its own characteristics and advantages. They allow researchers and scientific organisations to assess the quality and impact of scientific journals, which is particularly important when choosing a publication to publish research results. Moreover, understanding the specifics of each quartile helps scientists to build an effective publication strategy that will contribute to their advancement.
1. First Quartile (Q1)
Journals in the first quartile are considered the most influential and prestigious in their scientific field. This means that their articles are frequently cited by other scientists. Q1 journals publish research that makes a significant contribution to a particular scientific field. Accordingly, placing an article in such a journal increases the likelihood that a scientist's work will receive more attention and mentions in other studies, which, in turn, can positively affect his or her Hirsch index.
However, it should be noted that journals of this type have high requirements for peer review. Therefore, before submitting the material, it is necessary to study in detail the basic norms that a scientific article should meet (usually they are published on the official website of the journal). They include requirements for the structure of the article, the design of references, style of presentation, as well as the originality of the material and its importance to the scientific community. Compliance with these standards significantly increases the chances of a paper being successfully accepted for publication in a first-quartile journal.
Who should publish Q1:
- docents;
- professors;
- researchers with extensive research experience;
- researchers who wish to strengthen their position in academia.
2. Second quartile (Q2)
Q2 journals have a strong position in the scientific community, and are right after Q1 in terms of influence and citations. These journals also publish high-quality research, but their selection criteria are less stringent than those of the first quartile. Nevertheless, publications in these journals can still significantly enhance a researcher's reputation. To learn more about the features of Q2 journals, read our article on this topic.
Who should publish in Q2:
- researchers from scientific fields where competition for publication in Q1 journals is too high;
- researchers who want to increase the visibility of their articles;
- researchers whose main objective is to gain experience.
3. Third quartile (Q3)
Although the citation and impact levels of Q3 journals are lower than those of Q1 and Q2, they are still a valuable resource for publication, especially in specialised or niche areas. Research published in these journals may not receive as many citations as papers in higher quartile journals, but they still play an important role in advancing science in narrow fields and promoting new ideas and technologies.
Who should publish in Q3:
- scientists who are just starting their careers and want to make a name for themselves;
- researchers for whom competition for publication in Q1 and Q2 journals is too high.
4. Fourth quartile (Q4)
Journals falling into the fourth quartile usually have a low citation rate. There are several reasons for this, including novelty of the publication, low visibility or focus on less popular areas of science.
Despite the fact that Q4 journals are in the bottom 25% of the total number of indexed journals, they can still have value for publications, especially for researchers working in specialised fields.
Who should publish in Q4:
- researchers working in niche or emerging areas of science where competition for publication in higher-quartile journals is too great;
- scientists who are just starting their careers and are looking for an opportunity to make a name for themselves and share their research;
- those researching topics that may be of interest to a limited audience but are still important to the development of a particular field of science;
- authors who want to publish their research quickly without having to wait for lengthy peer review processes, as in higher quartile publications.
A quartile is a handy tool for evaluating scientific journals that allows researchers and scientists to target the most authoritative and influential publications in their field. Knowing the differences between quartiles can help you choose the right journal to publish in and understand what level of scholarly impact can be expected from your chosen publication.
If you need expert help with publishing an article in scientific journals, contact "Scientific Publications". Our experts will advise you, help you choose a journal with the appropriate quartile that best suits your topic, and provide post-publication support. Fill out the form below and our manager will contact you as soon as possible. Together to new scientific achievements!
