The Scopus database indexes various types of publications. Common document types include research articles and conference proceedings. When choosing between these two formats, a researcher must take a number of factors into account. Read on to learn about the key difference between articles and conferences in Scopus.
Research articles in Scopus
Publications in journals indexed in Scopus are taken into account when evaluating a researcher’s academic activity. However, specific requirements regarding the number, length and topics of articles depend on the institution or programme. Before submitting a manuscript to a publication, its scientometric indicators should be taken into account. The main metrics in Scopus include the following:
- CiteScore
- Scimago Journal Rank (SJR)
- Source Normalized Impact per Paper (SNIP)
When preparing a research article, it is also important to comply with the requirements established by the specific journal. They may relate to the length, language, formatting and other aspects of the work. This type of publication usually follows the international IMRAD structure, unlike conference proceedings, in which the introduction, methods, results and discussion are described more briefly.
Researchers may choose research articles to present research findings, develop their author profile, meet reporting requirements, increase their international visibility, and so on.
Conference proceedings in Scopus
Conference proceedings are appropriate for researchers who are working on a study whose findings are intended to become a full-length article at a later stage. These publications make it possible to receive feedback that will be useful for refining the publication. Such works are mainly published in a special issue of a journal or in a separate volume of conference proceedings.
The standard IMRAD structure may also be followed when preparing conference publications, but the length of the presentation is usually significantly shorter than in research articles. These materials mainly contain the key points, methodology, results and conclusions of the study. At the same time, Scopus does not index all materials; in particular, short abstracts or summaries of presentations are rarely included in the database.
What should you choose for publication in Scopus?
First and foremost, a researcher’s decision should be based on the purpose of the publication, the institution’s requirements and the specific characteristics of the academic field. If the author plans to present a new idea quickly, test preliminary results, receive professional feedback, establish international contacts or find potential co-authors, it is advisable to consider publishing conference proceedings.
However, if the long-term development of an academic career and the strengthening of a professional reputation are important to the researcher, preparing a research article will be the optimal choice. Such works make it possible not only to formally present and record research findings, but also to help increase the researcher’s international visibility. The publication of research articles in peer-reviewed journals is usually one of the requirements for the conferral of academic titles, the defence of a dissertation, the consideration of grant applications, participation in competitions and attestation procedures.
Therefore, a researcher should approach the choice of publication format carefully. Many aspects should be taken into account, from personal plans to the requirements of a particular university, grant fund or academic organisation.
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