SCImago Journal Rankings

From The Embassy of Good Science

SCImago Journal Rankings

What is this about?

SCImago Journal & Country Rank (SJR) is online database developed by Felix de Moya in Spain in 2007 [1]. SJR uses Scopus  indexed journals to provide bibliometric indicators, i.e. quality assesment. This factor was introducted in bibliometric indicators as a alternative metrics to Impact Factor [2].

Why is this important?

This bibliometric indicator is criteria when it comes to ranking of scientific journals based on quality. There are many journals which are indexed only on Scopus and can be validated by using SJR, as Impact factor (IF) considers only ISI Web of Science data [3][4]. Both Web of Science and Scopus database use basically same model of clasification which commites on two levels, first one would be a number of areas and second one subject categories [5]. Improvements regarding SJR towards IF are that SJR counts citations in a given year to documents in 3-year publication window, every citation is not of equal value meaning that citations cited by more prestigious journals have more influence, last but not the least would be that Scopus is bigger database than Web of Sciences thus it takes into acocunt more journals [6]. Meaning that this database ensures not only mesaurament of popularity or impact of certain journal, bit it rather takes into acocunt the prestige of journal and the prestige of the citing journal as well.  Another great advantage of this database is that it is free of any charge [5].

  1. Kianifar, Hamidreza, Ramin Sadeghi, and Leili Zarifmahmoudi. "Comparison between impact factor, eigenfactor metrics, and SCimago journal rank indicator of pediatric neurology journals." Acta Informatica Medica 22.2 (2014): 103.
  2. Mañana-Rodríguez, Jorge. "A critical review of SCImago journal & country rank." Research evaluation 24.4 (2015): 343-354.
  3. Kianifar, Hamidreza, Ramin Sadeghi, and Leili Zarifmahmoudi. "Comparison between impact factor, eigenfactor metrics, and SCimago journal rank indicator of pediatric neurology journals." Acta Informatica Medica 22.2 (2014): 103.
  4. Mañana-Rodríguez, Jorge. "A critical review of SCImago journal & country rank." Research evaluation 24.4 (2015): 343-354.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Gómez-Núñez, Antonio J., et al. "Improving SCImago Journal & Country Rank (SJR) subject classification through reference analysis." Scientometrics 89.3 (2011): 741-758.
  6. Roldan-Valadez, Ernesto, et al. "Current concepts on bibliometrics: a brief review about impact factor, Eigenfactor score, CiteScore, SCImago Journal Rank, Source-Normalised Impact per Paper, H-index, and alternative metrics." Irish Journal of Medical Science (1971-) 188.3 (2019): 939-951.

For whom is this important?

What are the best practices?

An article analyzed bibliometric indicators for nuclear medicine journal. By comparison of Scopus and ISI scientists realised that seven nucelar medicine journals were indexed only on Scopus. By analysing these journals as they were part of ISI database potential IF of those journals was calculated and it put them in 11th, 14th i 15th place of nuclear medicine journal list. This result leads to conclusion that Scopus indexed journals shouldn't be overlooked when conducting quality assesment [1]. Another research among ISI and Scopus based on pediatric neurology journals showed that 3 journals were Scopus indexed only. Once again potential IF of three jorunals was calculated and it ranked them 12th, 13th and 14th among pediatric neurology journals. Self-citation doesn't affect SJR, but when it comes to IF self-citation has a great effect on it. When it comes to quality assesment of journal one should be aware of potential errors of IF and get familiar with new bibliometric indicators (such as ES, SJR) for best results [2].

  1. Ramin, Sadeghi, and Alireza Sarraf Shirazi. "Comparison between Impact factor, SCImago journal rank indicator and Eigenfactor score of nuclear medicine journals." Nuclear Medicine Review 15.2 (2012): 132-136.
  2. Kianifar, Hamidreza, Ramin Sadeghi, and Leili Zarifmahmoudi. "Comparison between impact factor, eigenfactor metrics, and SCimago journal rank indicator of pediatric neurology journals." Acta Informatica Medica 22.2 (2014): 103.

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