Securing a spot for your journal in Scopus is an essential step to escalating its visibility and readership, as well as its overall impact. Scopus stands out among the largest bibliographic databases by providing abstracts and citations of academic journals, conference proceedings, and books.
Scopus how to submit a scientific journal?
The process of getting included in this influential database involves multiple steps such as:
- Step one in the journey to having your journal included within Scopus is an initial assessment by the Content Selection Advisory Board. This board assesses the journal's quality, scope and content, carefully considering whether it meets all of Scopus' criterion for inclusion.
- Submitting an application to be included in Scopus is the next step for journals that have passed evaluation. This document should include background on their scope, editorial policies, peer-review process and more. The timeline of this process generally ranges from several months while clarifications may occasionally arise along the way.
- Once the application is approved, Scopus assesses the journal's content to make sure it meets their set quality criteria. They strictly examine each article for originality, accuracy and precision as well as its relevance to the journal's scope.
- The Scopus team also carries out a technical analysis to guarantee that the journal's material is compatible with indexing standards. This evaluation includes verifying the metadata and ensuring that it meets all necessary conditions, for instance regular publication frequency, accessibility in digital format, and strict observance of professional principles.
- After the journal has successfully completed the content and technical evaluation, it is then indexed in Scopus. This means that its articles and metadata are stored within the global Scopus database to make them accessible for researchers and readers worldwide. Note that inclusion into this platform does not end there journals must continue to meet both quality requirements as well as uphold all policies set by Scopus so they can stay indexed in said database.
The path to gaining a presence in Scopus can be complex and time-consuming. Nevertheless, being indexed by this platform grants journals more reach and influence; thus making it worth striving for if you desire your journal to gain greater visibility.
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How to check if a journal is in the Scopus database?
Here are a few potential explanations as to why certain publications or journals may be absent in the Scopus database:
- Scopus ensures that only the highest caliber of scholarly literature is included in its database. Journals without a demanding peer-review system or an explicit editorial policy may not pass standards and, therefore, will be omitted.
- Journals that don't have journal articles pertinent to the chosen domains may be excluded from the coverage of Scopus. To ensure viability and longevity, Scopus requires journals to have a defined publishing schedule and long-term plan for sustainability. Any journals that fail to produce issues on a consistent basis or demonstrate an inconsistent pattern of publication are excluded from consideration.
- Accessibility: Scopus only considers journals that are have widespread distribution. Publications with limited access or availability will not be included in the database. Adhering to strict policies and ethical standards is paramount for Scopus; journals that don't comply or practice questionable ethics may not be considered.
- It is essential to understand that being added in Scopus is an optional decision taken by the journal publisher. Several journals may choose not to be listed on Scopus due to a variety of motives, like declining to pay fees associated with indexing or failure in meeting criteria for inclusion.
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We strongly encourage you to be exceptionally cautious when selecting a scientific publication for your research. This is a critical moment in the publishing process that will help you reach your goals. Should any obstacles arise during this step along the way, do not hesitate to seek assistance from our knowledgeable professionals, we are always ready and willing to collaborate with you!
As a reminder, we have recently posted an article “Exclusion of journals from Scopus (January 2023)”