Choosing a journal for publication in Web of Science (WoS) requires particular attention and consideration of a number of criteria. This database consists of subject-specific indexes, which researchers need to be able to navigate in order to select the most suitable publication. In our article, we will examine the Web of Science Core Collection indexes and what they mean.
What is the Web of Science Core Collection?
Web of Science Core Collection is the main citation collection of the Web of Science platform, covering scientific journals, conference proceedings and scholarly books. Web of Science Core Collection contains 10 main indexes. However, it is worth noting that for researchers choosing a journal for publication, four indexes are of key importance:
- Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE)
- Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI)
- Arts & Humanities Citation Index (AHCI)
- Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI)
Web of Science Core Collection indexes
Science Citation Index Expanded
Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) covers scientific journals primarily in the natural, technical and medical sciences. It includes publications in such fields as medicine, biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, agricultural sciences, computer science and other disciplines.
SCIE brings together journals that meet Web of Science requirements for editorial quality and have additionally undergone an assessment of scientific impact. During this assessment, Clarivate analyses the citation performance of the journal, its authors and editorial board, as well as the significance of the publication for the relevant scientific field.
Social Sciences Citation Index
Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) indexes journals in the social sciences. This index includes publications in economics, psychology, sociology, education, management, law, political science, communications and other fields.
For a journal to be included in SSCI, meeting the basic Web of Science requirements alone is not sufficient. Clarivate also assesses its scientific impact in the relevant subject area. Thus, SSCI covers social science journals that have undergone both an assessment of editorial quality and an additional assessment of impact.
Arts & Humanities Citation Index
Arts & Humanities Citation Index (AHCI) covers publications in the humanities and arts. It includes publications in history, philosophy, linguistics, literature, art history, cultural studies and other humanities disciplines.
As with the previous indexes, a journal must meet Web of Science quality requirements and undergo an additional assessment of scientific significance. At the same time, Clarivate takes into account the specific characteristics of humanities disciplines, where the nature and frequency of citation may differ significantly from those in the natural or technical sciences.
Emerging Sources Citation Index
Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) covers journals from various scientific fields. The index includes new and regional publications, highly specialised journals or publications working in new and promising areas of research. Inclusion in ESCI means that a journal has undergone a Web of Science assessment and meets the established editorial quality criteria.
What is the difference between ESCI and SCIE, SSCI, AHCI?
Clarivate uses two main groups of criteria to assess journals:
- The first group – 24 quality criteria. These relate to the journal’s editorial work, peer review, academic integrity, the composition of the editorial board, authors, publication regularity, content and transparency of the publication’s operations. If a journal meets these requirements, it may be included in ESCI.
- The second group – 4 impact criteria. These are used to determine whether a journal has sufficient scientific impact to move to SCIE, SSCI or AHCI.
Thus, ESCI means that a journal meets Web of Science quality requirements. SCIE, SSCI or AHCI means that a journal meets the quality requirements and has additionally undergone an assessment of scientific impact. At the same time, a journal’s status may change. If a journal in ESCI strengthens its scientific impact, it may move to SCIE, SSCI or AHCI. If a journal ceases to meet the impact requirements but continues to meet the quality criteria, it may be moved back to ESCI.
Other Web of Science Core Collection indexes
Web of Science Core Collection covers not only scientific journals. The collection also includes conference proceedings indexes:
- Conference Proceedings Citation Index – Science (CPCI-S) – conference proceedings in the natural and technical sciences
- Conference Proceedings Citation Index – Social Sciences & Humanities (CPCI-SSH) – conference proceedings in the social sciences and humanities
Scientific book indexes are also presented separately:
- Book Citation Index – Science (BKCI-S) – books in the natural and technical sciences
- Book Citation Index – Social Sciences & Humanities (BKCI-SSH) – books in the social sciences and humanities
Web of Science Core Collection also includes the specialised chemical indexes Current Chemical Reactions (CCR-Expanded) and Index Chemicus (IC). If a researcher is planning to publish specifically in a scientific journal, attention should primarily be paid to SCIE, SSCI, AHCI and ESCI.
What should you pay attention to when choosing a journal in Web of Science?
First of all, you need to check which index the journal is included in, as well as whether this meets the requirements of your university, scientific institution or assessment procedure.
It is also important to pay attention to:
- the journal’s subject category and its relevance to the topic of your article
- scientometric indicators (quartile, impact factor and percentile), if they are relevant to your objectives
- the journal’s current indexing status in Web of Science
- manuscript requirements, article types, publication language and editorial rules
- publication cost, the availability of an APC and the type of access to the publication
- approximate peer-review and publication timelines, if the work must be published by a specified date
It is important to choose a journal not only according to its indicators, but also according to its relevance to the research topic and the specific academic requirements that the author must fulfil.
Need help with publication in Web of Science? Contact the company Scientific Publications. Our specialists will audit your work and help you choose a high-quality scientific publication that meets your objectives. We will also support you at every stage of the publication process, up to the point when the work is indexed. Still have questions? Fill in the form below, and our manager will contact you shortly. Together – towards scientific achievements!
