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Social Sciences › Social Sciences › Library and Information Sciences
The accuracy of field classifications for journals in Scopus
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Overview
Paper Summary
Conflicts of Interest
Identified Weaknesses
Rating Explanation
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Paper Summary
Paperzilla title
Scopus Field Classifications: Sometimes Close, Sometimes a Total Miss!
The study finds that journals in Scopus don't always publish articles matching their assigned field classifications or stated aims. This mismatch varies across fields and journal types (specialist, cross-field, general), undermining the accuracy of citation-based metrics and potentially confusing authors seeking publication venues.
Possible Conflicts of Interest
The first author is a member of the Distinguished Reviewers Board of Scientometrics. This connection could potentially introduce a minor bias, although the study uses quantitative data analysis methods.
Identified Weaknesses
Oversimplified Journal Categorization
The reliance on Scopus classifications and the simplified journal type categorization can lead to an oversimplified and potentially inaccurate view of journal-field relationships. The definition of "cross-field" journals based solely on multiple Scopus classifications doesn't account for other factors like topic overlap, field relatedness, and journal inclusivity/generality.
Limited Textual Analysis
The text-matching method based on titles and abstracts might not fully capture the nuances of research topics and methodologies discussed in full-text articles. This limitation is acknowledged by the authors but could still influence the identification of publishing practices and journal-field matching.
Limited Generalizability to All Fields
The study focuses on journals with at least 100 articles in 2022, which could underrepresent journals in the arts and humanities that tend to have fewer publications per year. This limits the generalizability of the findings to all academic fields.
Subjectivity of Field Definitions
The subjective nature of field definitions and scope can influence the evaluation of journal-field matching and the classification of cross-field journals. The authors recognize this limitation, highlighting how researchers themselves might vary in their field definitions.
Limited Temporal Scope
The study only analyzes data from 2022, which might not reflect the evolving relationships between journals and fields over time. Journal classifications and publishing practices can shift due to various factors, which limits the long-term validity of the findings.
Rating Explanation
The study makes a valid contribution by examining journal-field mismatches in Scopus and highlighting the potential consequences. The methodology has limitations, but the overall analysis is sound. The identified conflict of interest might be minor, and it's likely the quantitative methodology mitigates much of the risk of bias.
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Topic Hierarchy
File Information
Original Title:
The accuracy of field classifications for journals in Scopus
File Name:
s11192-023-04901-4.pdf
[download]
File Size:
2.18 MB
Uploaded:
July 14, 2025 at 05:11 PM
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