Scopus and Web of Science remain the main benchmarks for assessing the standing of a scholarly journal. Both databases are used by attestation bodies and universities when reviewing dissertations, grant applications and research reports. Despite their similar purpose, the databases differ in journal coverage, the methodology behind their metrics and their approach to journal selection – factors a scholar should bear in mind when choosing a journal.
What do Scopus and Web of Science cover?
Scopus is a multidisciplinary database owned by the publisher Elsevier, launched in 2004. It includes scholarly journals, conference proceedings, books and patents.
Web of Science is owned by Clarivate and traces its history back to a citation index created in the 1960s. The database is built around several collections, including the Science Citation Index Expanded and the Social Sciences Citation Index. Both platforms are used to check a journal's status before submitting an article.
Journal coverage differs considerably
Scopus indexes more than 25,000 journals, while the core Web of Science collection covers around 21,000-22,000 titles. Web of Science takes a more selective approach to including publications, which accounts for its smaller overall coverage. This gap is most noticeable in applied and interdisciplinary fields, where Scopus offers a scholar a wider choice of outlets.
The main differences between the two databases include:
- the number of indexed journals and conference proceedings
- the methodology used to select publications
- the set of metrics used to assess citation impact
- the depth of historical citation data
- the availability of free tools for checking metrics
Why might a journal's quartile differ between Scopus and Web of Science?
A quartile (Q1-Q4) reflects a journal's standing among titles in its subject category, though each database calculates quartiles using its own methodology. In Scopus, the quartile is based on the SJR (SCImago Journal Rank); in Web of Science, it is based on the Journal Impact Factor from the Journal Citation Reports. Because the subject categories and the pool of journals differ between the two databases, the same journal can end up with a different quartile in each system.
Citation metrics: CiteScore and Journal Impact Factor
Scopus calculates the CiteScore metric and also provides access to SJR and SNIP through the SCImago service. Web of Science uses the Journal Impact Factor – a measure based on citations received over a two-year period. Because each system draws on a different set of publications, citation figures for the same journal in Scopus and Web of Science typically differ.
Which database matters when preparing a dissertation?
Uzbekistan's attestation bodies take into account publications indexed in both Scopus and Web of Science when reviewing dissertations, with specific requirements on the number and quartile of articles set according to the academic field. When planning a publication strategy, it is therefore worth considering both databases, where this is permitted by the dissertation council's profile.
When choosing a journal for a future article, it is useful to follow these steps:
- Determine the academic field and the profile of the dissertation council.
- Check the journal's status in Scopus and Web of Science by title or ISSN.
- Compare the journal's quartile across both databases.
- Review the attestation body's requirements for the number of publications.
- Confirm the choice of journal with the academic supervisor.
Scopus and Web of Science complement one another rather than replace each other. Each database applies its own criteria for selecting journals and its own methodology for calculating metrics, so the overall picture of a scholar's contribution draws on data from both systems. This approach reduces the risk of choosing the wrong journal and makes it easier to build a publication portfolio ahead of a dissertation defence.
Planning a publication in a Scopus or Web of Science journal? The specialists at Scientific Publications can help check a journal's status, select a title suited to your field and prepare an article in line with the requirements of the attestation bodies. For a free consultation, fill in the form below and our manager will contact you shortly.
