One of the biggest challenges facing scientific journals is being indexed in international and top-rated databases. The benefit of being indexed in such databases, is the availability of the journal to a wide audience, in a short amount of time.
Generally, these indexes are classified into three categories:
- International Scientific Indexing (ISI)
- Specialized Indexing (e.g. Medlin and Embase)
- Geography-based indexing which is mostly available and third-rate indexing
To be indexed in top-rated databases is very difficult for a scientific journal, since it demands meeting their special requirements. These requirements differ based on the services the database offers, and sometimes can be hard to fullfil (e.g. on time publication, accurate referencing, and peer review). One of the important conditions could be the journal’s publication in a particular geographic area.
The most important requirements are listed below:
Editorial Quality
- Coherence in all of the journal articles should be achieved through adhering to the guidelines of the scientific journal.
- The title of the scientific journal must be clear.
- The titles and abstracts of the articles should be thoroughly comprehensible.
- Detailed bibliographic information must be included for use in other articles’ references.
- Authors’ names and affiliations must be clearly stated.
- Peer review must be used in the scientific journal.
- Ethical issues must be considered when accepting articles.
Production Quality
- The journal must be released on time.
- Page layout, printing, graphics and the pictures must have a desirable quality.
Scientific Content
- Considering the topics of the upcoming scientific conferences
- Considering controversial topics of the day when selecting articles
- Valuing the authenticity of the articles
- Selecting original articles rather than case reports and review articles
Linguistic Prerequisites
Including the English translation of the title, abstract, keywords and references for all of the articles, if the articles are written in another language
Variety
- Including articles and references of various authors
- Including authors with various affiliations
Scientific journals should make accurate plans for being indexed. At first, it might seem difficult to make an emerging journal known; however, after the publication of several issues, the managers of the scientific journal will be able to resolve this issue. Some databases only index journals after the publication of several issues (usually three) or the passage of a period of time (usually a year).
The most popular journal indexing databases
1. Web of Science (WoS):
Web of Science is a comprehensive research platform that indexes scholarly literature across various disciplines. It includes Science Citation Index Expanded, Social Sciences Citation Index, Arts & Humanities Citation Index, and more. WoS provides citation analysis, allowing researchers to track citation counts, identify influential papers, and assess research impact.
2. Scopus:
Scopus, owned by Elsevier, is a multidisciplinary abstract and citation database covering a wide range of scientific disciplines. It indexes journals, conference proceedings, and patents, offering citation analysis, author profiles, and h-index metrics. Scopus provides robust coverage of peer-reviewed literature, enabling researchers to discover relevant articles and track citation trends.
3. PubMed:
PubMed is a free search engine maintained by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). It primarily focuses on biomedical literature, including articles from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. PubMed offers advanced search capabilities, filters for specific study types and publication dates, and links to full-text articles when available.
4. Google Scholar:
Google Scholar is a freely accessible search engine that indexes scholarly articles, theses, books, and conference papers across various disciplines. It provides citation counts, h-index metrics, and alerts for new publications related to researchers’ interests. While not as curated as other databases, Google Scholar offers broad coverage and easy access to scholarly content.
5. IEEE Xplore:
IEEE Xplore is a digital library focused on electrical engineering, computer science, and related disciplines. It indexes journals, conference proceedings, standards, and ebooks published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and other partners. IEEE Xplore offers advanced search options, citation analysis, and access to technical papers and research insights.
6. MEDLINE:
MEDLINE is a bibliographic database maintained by the National Library of Medicine (NLM), covering biomedical and life sciences literature. It indexes journals, including those in allied health fields, nursing, and biology. MEDLINE provides comprehensive coverage of clinical research, epidemiology, and medical literature, facilitating evidence-based practice and healthcare decision-making.
7. EBSCOhost:
EBSCOhost is a subscription-based research platform offering access to a vast array of databases, including Academic Search, Business Source, and PsycINFO. It indexes scholarly journals, magazines, newspapers, and ebooks across multiple disciplines. EBSCOhost provides sophisticated search capabilities, full-text access to articles, and citation management tools for researchers and students.
8. ProQuest:
ProQuest is another subscription-based research platform that hosts various databases covering academic, corporate, and government publications. It indexes scholarly journals, newspapers, dissertations, and primary sources across diverse subject areas. ProQuest offers advanced search functionalities, document delivery services, and options for collaborative research and teaching.
9. JSTOR:
JSTOR is a digital library that provides access to academic journals, books, and primary sources in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. It offers a vast collection of archival content, allowing researchers to explore historical perspectives and interdisciplinary connections. JSTOR’s platform features advanced search tools, topic-based browsing, and text mining capabilities for scholarly analysis.
10. DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals):
DOAJ is a community-curated directory that indexes high-quality, peer-reviewed open access journals from around the world. It promotes open access publishing and transparency in scholarly communication by providing free access to research articles across various disciplines. DOAJ offers search and browse functionalities, article metrics, and metadata for each indexed journal.
These journal indexing databases play a crucial role in academic research by facilitating access to scholarly literature, citation analysis, and research impact assessment. Researchers, librarians, and students rely on these platforms to discover relevant articles, stay updated on the latest research trends, and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in their respective fields.
The importance of indexing for the journals
Indexing of academic journals plays a crucial role in the dissemination, visibility, and impact of scholarly research. Here’s why it’s essential for academic journals to be indexed:
1. Increased Discoverability:
Indexing enables academic journals to be discovered more easily by researchers, scholars, and students. When journals are indexed in prominent databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, or Google Scholar, they become accessible to a wider audience interested in specific fields of study. This increased discoverability ensures that valuable research findings reach a broader audience, thereby maximizing the impact and relevance of scholarly work.2. Enhanced Visibility and Citations:
Indexed journals are more likely to receive visibility within the academic community and attract citations from other researchers. Being indexed in reputable databases enhances the credibility and prestige of academic journals, making them more attractive to authors seeking to publish their work. Moreover, indexed journals are often included in citation networks and bibliographic databases, which further contribute to their visibility and impact within the scholarly community.3. Quality Assurance and Peer Review:
Many indexing databases have rigorous selection criteria and quality control measures in place to ensure the credibility and integrity of the journals they index. Being accepted for indexing signifies that a journal meets certain standards of scholarly excellence, such as rigorous peer review processes, adherence to ethical publishing practices, and editorial quality. Thus, indexing serves as a form of quality assurance, signaling to readers and authors that the published research is credible and trustworthy.4. Global Reach and Collaboration:
Indexed journals have the potential to reach a global audience of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. By being indexed in international databases, academic journals can facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange across geographical boundaries and cultural contexts. This global reach enhances the diversity of perspectives and promotes interdisciplinary dialogue, fostering innovation and advancements in various fields of study.5. Research Impact and Funding Opportunities:
Indexing enhances the visibility and impact of academic journals, which can positively influence funding opportunities and research outcomes. Researchers often rely on citation metrics and impact factors provided by indexing databases to assess the significance and influence of scholarly publications. Journals with higher citation counts and impact factors are more likely to attract funding, collaborations, and career opportunities for authors, thereby incentivizing high-quality research and scholarship.6. Promotion of Open Access and Open Science:
Indexing databases play a crucial role in promoting open access and open science initiatives. Many indexing databases include open access journals and repositories in their collections, thereby increasing the accessibility and visibility of research outputs. Indexing of open access journals facilitates the dissemination of knowledge to a wider audience, promotes transparency in research practices, and supports the principles of open science.Subsequently, indexing of academic journals is essential for enhancing the discoverability, visibility, and impact of scholarly research. Indexed journals are more likely to attract citations, collaborations, and funding opportunities, thereby contributing to the advancement of knowledge and innovation in various fields of study. Moreover, indexing promotes quality assurance, global collaboration, and the principles of open access and open science, fostering a vibrant and inclusive scholarly ecosystem.
The challenge of indexing for new journals
Launching a new academic journal entails overcoming numerous hurdles, particularly in attaining recognition through indexing in esteemed databases. Here’s an in-depth examination of the challenges confronting emerging journals in this endeavor:
1. Earning Credibility and Validation:
A primary obstacle for new journals lies in establishing credibility and demonstrating the quality of their scholarly content. Many indexing databases demand stringent criteria encompassing peer review standards, editorial integrity, ethical publishing norms, and academic rigor. For fledgling journals lacking a publication track record, meeting these benchmarks can be arduous, hampering their prospects of securing indexing status.2. Fostering Author Engagement:
Indexed journals naturally draw submissions from renowned researchers and scholars seeking to disseminate their work through reputable channels. However, for new entrants, cultivating a robust author base poses a formidable challenge. Competing with established journals, which boast loyal followings and entrenched reputations, is daunting. Without a diverse and high-caliber pool of submissions, new journals struggle to showcase their scholarly merit and capture the attention of indexing databases.3. Navigating the Indexing Protocol:
Navigating the labyrinthine process of indexing application in databases like Web of Science or Scopus demands considerable resources, expertise, and administrative acumen. From compiling requisite documentation to fulfilling technical specifications and addressing feedback loops, the process can be labyrinthine and time-consuming. New journals, often grappling with resource constraints and institutional support, find themselves ill-equipped to navigate this intricate journey effectively.4. Meeting Stringent Indexing Criteria:
Indexing databases impose exacting criteria that journals must satisfy for consideration. These benchmarks encompass publication frequency, editorial board diversity, citation metrics, and global visibility, among others. For nascent journals, especially in their nascent stages when citation metrics and readership might be modest, meeting these thresholds poses a formidable challenge.5. Managing Finances and Resources:
Establishing and sustaining a new journal necessitates substantial financial investment, operational resources, and technological infrastructure. From implementing editorial management systems to orchestrating robust peer review processes and undertaking aggressive marketing campaigns, the financial outlay can be exorbitant. Confronted with financial constraints and resource limitations, new journals often struggle to allocate resources judiciously to initiatives that bolster visibility and appeal to indexing databases.6. Navigating Competitive Terrain:
The academic publishing arena is fiercely competitive, with numerous journals jostling for recognition and acknowledgment from scholars, researchers, and indexing databases. For new journals, distinguishing themselves from entrenched competitors and carving out a distinctive niche within their academic domains is imperative. This might entail identifying unique value propositions, targeting underserved research niches, and forging strategic alliances to augment visibility and relevance.Overcoming these formidable challenges necessitates strategic foresight, collaborative synergy, and unwavering determination on the part of journal stakeholders. By prioritizing excellence, transparency, and innovation, new journals can enhance their prospects of securing indexing status and cementing their position as indispensable contributors to scholarly discourse.
–
1 thought on “How to index my jorunal ?”