Web of Science Db

Web of Science

The Web of Science, whose new owner is Clarivate Analytics, is associated with the Journal Citation Reports database, which publishes an annual list of mythical Impact Factors (IF).

While there are over 24,000 titles in Scopus, the Science Citation Index Expanded (the database that contains titles with an IF) limits the number of STM (Science/Technical/Medicine) titles to some 6,000 titles. Being indexed in the Science Citation Index Expanded (and therefore having an IF) is a particularly popular label but much more difficult to obtain than that of Scopus.

The description of the journal selection process demonstrates the difficulty of complying with their criteria (mainly in terms of citations).

This database favors Anglo-Saxon titles and more particularly bio-medical titles. The limits are well known … even if several funding organizations continue to favor articles published in journals with an impact factor, having an impact factor (see debates) is not an end in itself.

Alongside the Science Citation Index Expanded (and the Social Sciences Citation Index and Arts & Humanities Citation Index), Clarivate now offers the Emerging Sources Citation Index with titles also integrated into the Web of Science but which do not get an IF.