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Disparities in document indexation in two databases (Scopus and Web of Science) among six subject domains, and the impact on journal-based metrics

Author

Listed:
  • Hilary I. Okagbue

    (Covenant University)

  • Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva

    (Independent Researcher)

  • Abiodun A. Opanuga

    (Covenant University)

Abstract

A previous study ( https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-020-03457-x ) found a discrepancy between Elsevier’s CiteScore and Clarivate Analytics’ Journal Impact Factor (JIF) in library and information science (LIS) journals. One possibility to explain this discrepancy may lie in the number and type of documents used to calculate these journal-based metrics. Using the top quartile of Scopus-indexed journals from 2011 to 2018, we assessed the number of documents for each journal and year that were indexed in Scopus and in Web of Science (WoS) in six fields of study: LIS, discrete mathematics and combinatorics (DMC), medicine: epidemiology (ME), agriculture and biological sciences (ABS), social science: demography (SSD), and environmental engineering (EE). The number of documents in WoS was higher than those indexed in Scopus for four fields of study: LIS, ME, SSD and EE, with a difference of 1653, 3931, 635 and 197 documents, respectively. For DMC and ABS, Scopus listed more documents than WoS for the same years and journals, the differential being 7 and 1284, respectively. The greater indexing of documents in WoS than in Scopus in four fields of study may explain why the JIF of top-ranking LIS journals is different than their CiteScore. To verify this possibility, one category (DMC) was examined in detail. Of the 16 DMC journals examined, 91.1% were articles, while 8.9% of missing documents were corrections, an erratum, an editorial, an abstract report and in press articles. There were no significant differences between the citation patterns of the missing DMC journals’ documents in Scopus and WoS. Citations to missing documents may impact the CiteScore and JIF and should thus be properly indexed.

Suggested Citation

  • Hilary I. Okagbue & Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva & Abiodun A. Opanuga, 2020. "Disparities in document indexation in two databases (Scopus and Web of Science) among six subject domains, and the impact on journal-based metrics," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 125(3), pages 2821-2825, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:125:y:2020:i:3:d:10.1007_s11192-020-03704-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-020-03704-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chien Hsiang Liao & Mu-Yen Chen, 2018. "Exploring knowledge patterns of library and information science journals within the field: a citation analysis from 2009 to 2016," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 117(3), pages 1991-2008, December.
    2. Hilary I. Okagbue & Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva, 2020. "Correlation between the CiteScore and Journal Impact Factor of top-ranked library and information science journals," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 124(1), pages 797-801, July.
    3. Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva & Aamir Raoof Memon, 2017. "CiteScore: A cite for sore eyes, or a valuable, transparent metric?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 111(1), pages 553-556, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hui Fang, 2021. "Analysis of the new scopus CiteScore," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(6), pages 5321-5331, June.
    2. Weishu Liu & Meiting Huang & Haifeng Wang, 2021. "Same journal but different numbers of published records indexed in Scopus and Web of Science Core Collection: causes, consequences, and solutions," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(5), pages 4541-4550, May.

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