Journal classification

Journal classification

Journal classification refers to the categorization of academic journals based on various criteria such as subject area, quality, impact, and publishing standards. This classification helps researchers, institutions, and publishers identify the most relevant and reputable journals for their work. Below is a detailed explanation of journal classification systems and their significance.

1. Classification by Subject Area

Journals are often classified based on their field of study. Common subject areas include:

  • Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM): Journals like Nature, Science, and IEEE Transactions.
  • Social Sciences: Journals like American Sociological Review and Journal of Political Economy.
  • Humanities: Journals like Modern Language Review and Journal of Philosophy.
  • Medicine and Health Sciences: Journals like The Lancet and New England Journal of Medicine.

Examples of Subject-Specific Classifications:

  • Scopus Subject Areas: Scopus categorizes journals into 27 major subject areas and 334 subcategories.
  • Web of Science Categories: Journals are classified into over 250 subject categories.

2. Classification by Quality and Impact

Journals are also classified based on their quality and impact, often measured using metrics like Impact Factor, CiteScore, and h-index.

a. Impact Factor (IF):

  • Published by Clarivate Analytics in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR).
  • Measures the average number of citations received by articles published in the journal over a two-year period.
  • Example: A journal with an Impact Factor of 5.0 means its articles were cited 5 times on average in the last two years.

b. CiteScore:

  • Published by Scopus.
  • Calculates the average citations per document published in the last three years.
  • Example: A CiteScore of 3.5 means the journal received 3.5 citations per document.

c. h-index:

  • Measures both the productivity and citation impact of a journal.
  • A journal with an h-index of 50 has published 50 papers that have each been cited at least 50 times.

3. Classification by Publishing Standards

Journals are classified based on their publishing standards and peer-review processes:

  • Open Access Journals: Journals that make all articles freely available to the public (e.g., PLOS ONE, BioMed Central).
  • Subscription-Based Journals: Journals that require a subscription or payment to access articles (e.g., Elsevier, Springer).
  • Predatory Journals: Low-quality journals that exploit the open-access model by charging fees without providing proper peer review or editorial services.

4. Classification by Indexing Databases

Journals are often classified based on the databases that index them. Being indexed in reputable databases is a mark of quality.

a. SCIE (Science Citation Index Expanded):

  • Part of the Web of Science.
  • Includes high-quality journals in science and technology.

b. SSCI (Social Sciences Citation Index):

  • Part of the Web of Science.
  • Includes top journals in social sciences.

c. Scopus:

  • A large abstract and citation database that indexes journals across all disciplines.
  • Journals are evaluated based on criteria like publication standards, editorial quality, and international diversity.

d. PubMed:

  • A free database focusing on life sciences and biomedical journals.
  • Maintained by the National Library of Medicine (NLM).

5. Classification by Tier

Journals are sometimes classified into tiers based on their prestige and impact:

  • Tier 1 (Top Tier): Highly prestigious journals with high impact factors (e.g., Nature, Science).
  • Tier 2 (Mid Tier): Reputable journals with moderate impact factors.
  • Tier 3 (Lower Tier): Journals with lower impact factors or newer journals.

6. Classification by Country or Region

Some classification systems categorize journals based on their geographic origin:

  • Regional Journals: Focus on research from specific regions (e.g., African Journal of Agricultural Research).
  • International Journals: Publish research from around the world (e.g., The Lancet Global Health).

7. Examples of Journal Classification Systems

  1. Scimago Journal Rank (SJR):
    • Ranks journals based on citations weighted by the prestige of the citing journal.
    • Categories include Quartiles (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4), with Q1 being the top 25%.
  2. Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) Journal List:
    • Classifies journals in business and economics into A, A, B, and C* categories.
  3. Chartered Association of Business Schools (CABS) Academic Journal Guide:
    • Rates journals in business and management on a scale from 1 to 4, with 4 being the highest.

8. Importance of Journal Classification

  • For Researchers: Helps identify the most relevant and reputable journals for publishing their work.
  • For Institutions: Assists in evaluating the quality of research output for funding and promotions.
  • For Students: Guides the selection of credible sources for academic work.