Journal Ranking
Sometimes you may be searching Google and discover an article that could be useful for your work. However, you hear horror stories concerning things found on Google and want to make sure that this article comes from a reputable journal. How do you find out?
The most effective way to approach this is to use the Scopus database (https://www.kent.ac.uk/library/your-digital-library/digital-resources-directory/279/scopus).
Getting a journal into Scopus is like a restaurant trying to earn a Michelin star. You can’t just pay a fee to get in; you must pass a strict review by an independent panel of experts called the Content Selection and Advisory Board (CSAB).
How to use Scopus for evaluating a journal
- Within Scopus, select Sources from the top right-hand menu
- Select Title from the blue drop-down menu by the top search box
- Type the name of the journal into the search box that begins Enter title and click on Find sources
- Click on the relevant journal title in the results list
- We can now look at how the journal is scored and ranked, e.g., Artificial Intelligence Review
We can now determine that the journal Artificial Intelligence Review is listed in Scopus as being in the top 1-2% of its field, with its articles being used heavily within the academic community. Therefore, this journal is worth using!
Conversely, if the journal you discover is not listed in Scopus, proceed with caution. While it could be a newer or niche publication, its absence means you should more rigorously verify its quality and peer-review process before using it in your work.
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