Web of Science database: everything researchers need to know

Web of Science is one of the world's leading abstract and bibliographic databases. Many scientists strive to publish their work in the journals of this database, as it is a testament to the high quality of research and professional competence of the author. What is Web of Science? What functions does the platform have? What are the advantages of publishing in Web of Science? Read about it in our article today.

What is Web of Science?

Web of Science is one of the leading international scientometrics databases, founded by Clarivate. The platform indexes materials dating back to 1864 and covers thousands of scientific publications. In addition, the database covers scientific journals that have undergone a rigorous selection process to ensure they meet the platform's standards, as well as those included in various citation indexes.

Web of Science content

Although Web of Science covers various disciplines, technical disciplines still predominate on the platform.

Web of Science structure

The core of the Web of Science database is the Web of Science Core Collection, which consists of various indexes.

1. Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) – an expanded citation index that includes more than 9,000 scientific journals in 178 subject disciplines.
2. Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) – a citation index for the social sciences, containing over 3,500 publications from 58 subject disciplines. 
3. Arts & Humanities Citation Index (AHCI) – a citation index for the arts and humanities, containing over 1,800 publications from 28 subject disciplines.
4. Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) – a citation index for new sources, containing more than 9,000 publications in 254 disciplines.
5. Conference Proceedings Citation Index – Science (CPCI-S) – covers all areas of science and technology.
6. Conference Proceedings Citation Index – Social Science & Humanities (CPCI-SSH) – covers social sciences and humanities.
7. Book Citation Index – Science (BKCI-S) – covers scientific books and book chapters in the natural sciences and engineering.
8. Book Citation Index – Social Sciences & Humanities (BKCI-SSH) – indexes books and book chapters in the social sciences and humanities.

SCIE, SSCI and AHCI are considered to be among the most important, particularly because the first two calculate quartiles and impact factors.

Regional Web of Science databases

• Chinese Science Citation Database – a Chinese database indexing more than 1,300 journals since 1989
• Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO Citation Index) – an open access library containing research published in Latin America, Spain, Portugal, the Caribbean and South Africa. It indexes more than 1,500 journals dating back to 2002.
• KCI Korean Journal Database – the database contains South Korean scientific journals, numbering more than 2,500 since 1980
• ARCI Arabic Citation Index – the index is funded by the Egyptian government and created by Clarivate. The database includes approximately 586 Arabic journals since 2015

Web of Science subject databases

Web of Science tools

1. Journal Citation Reports (JCR) – a tool for analysing scientific journals. The platform allows you to view publication metrics, such as Impact Factor (IF), quartile, etc., and compare them with each other.
2. EndNote – an online service for working with bibliographic information, optimising the search for scientific materials and their citation.
3. Publons – a service for authors, reviewers and editors that allows you to present scientific achievements and create a research CV.
4. Web of Science My Research Assistant – a mobile application with Web of Science tools.
5. InCites – an online platform with scientometrics analysis functions that helps evaluate the scientific activity of institutions, scientists, and countries based on data from the Web of Science Core Collection.

What functions does Web of Science have?

WoS is an extremely useful platform for searching for scientific sources and preparing research. The platform has a number of functions, including: 

1. Searching for scientific literature

The platform contains a range of scientific materials, including scientific articles, books, conferences, patents, etc. Searches can be performed using a variety of filters (year of publication, author, keywords, subject, document type, etc.), which helps to find the right high-quality sources. 

2. Information on journal scientometrics indicators

The database contains data on indicators such as impact factor, quartile, etc., which help to assess the level of influence and prestige of a scientific publication. 

3. Citation analysis

WoS contains data on the citation rate of scientific articles. This helps to track which topics are relevant and which research is in demand in the scientific community. 

4. Access to specialised databases 

Web of Science includes collections such as SCIE, SSCI, AHCI and others, as well as conference and patent databases, which significantly expands the selection of scientific materials available for search.

What are the advantages of publishing in Web of Science for scientists?

Although the path to indexing in WoS is quite long and accompanied by rigorous verification, publishing in a journal in this database has a number of advantages for the author. It opens up a range of opportunities for scientists, including career growth, increased visibility of publications, and international recognition.

1. Strict review process. Before being indexed in WoS, journals undergo a thorough review and selection process. This includes assessing the quality of the editorial board and peer review, the quality of published materials and their relevance to the stated subject area of the publication, the regularity and timeliness of issues, etc. Thanks to the rigorous review process, WoS indexes only high-quality research, which in turn increases the credibility of articles and their authors.
2. Prestige and recognition. Publication in a reputable Web of Science publication, especially one with a high impact factor (IF) or first quartile (Q1), significantly enhances a scientist's reputation in the academic community. This will demonstrate their high competence and ability to conduct high-quality and original research in line with current scientific trends.
3. International visibility. Thanks to a wide audience (scientists, universities, scientific institutions, etc.) and trust, materials in Web of Science are more likely to be cited. This will contribute to the growth of the author's scientometrics indicators, in particular the Hirsch index.
4. Long-term impact. Once indexed, articles remain available for citation for a long time, allowing scientists to maintain their scientific influence over a long period.

The role of Web of Science in a scientist's career is extremely important. Publication in this database opens up a range of opportunities for professional and career development for scientists, as well as helping them to gain international recognition and influence.

If you also want to publish an article in Web of Science, please contact Scientific Publications. Our specialists will support you at all stages of the process: from choosing a journal to indexing. To receive a free consultation, fill out the form below, and our manager will contact you shortly. Together towards scientific achievements!