[Paper Review] A tale of two databases: The use of Web of Science and Scopus in academic papers

Junwen Zhu, Weishu Liu|arXiv (Cornell University)|Feb 7, 2020

scientometrics and bibliometrics research23 references74 citations

TL;DR

The paper compares Web of Science and Scopus usage in academic papers from 2004 to 2018, showing Scopus’ rising influence and differing regional and domain patterns.

ABSTRACT

Web of Science and Scopus are two world-leading and competing citation databases. By using the Science Citation Index Expanded and Social Sciences Citation Index, this paper conducts a comparative, dynamic, and empirical study focusing on the use of Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus in academic papers published during 2004 and 2018. This brief communication reveals that although both Web of Science and Scopus are increasingly used in academic papers, Scopus as a new-comer is really challenging the dominating role of WoS. Researchers from more and more countries/regions and knowledge domains are involved in the use of these two databases. Even though the main producers of related papers are developed economies, some developing economies such as China, Brazil and Iran also act important roles but with different patterns in the use of these two databases. Both two databases are widely used in meta-analysis related studies especially for researchers in China. Health/medical science related domains and the traditional Information Science & Library Science field stand out in the use of citation databases.

Motivation & Objective

• Assess the adoption and usage patterns of Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus in academic papers from 2004 to 2018.
• Examine geographic and disciplinary distributions of WoS and Scopus usage.
• Identify how the two databases are used in meta-analyses and in developing economies.
• Highlight the competitive dynamics between WoS and Scopus and the emergence of Scopus as a challenger.

Proposed method

• Conduct a comparative, dynamic, and empirical study using WoS and Scopus data (Science Citation Index Expanded and Social Sciences Citation Index).
• Analyze publication usage across years 2004–2018.
• Characterize country/region and knowledge domain patterns in the use of the two databases.
• Note applications in meta-analyses, especially in China.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 How do Web of Science and Scopus usage trends compare from 2004 to 2018?
• RQ2 In which countries/regions and knowledge domains is each database more prominently used?
• RQ3 What patterns emerge in the use of these databases for meta-analyses?
• RQ4 How does Scopus’ arrival influence the dominance of Web of Science?

Key findings

• Scopus is challenging the dominating role of Web of Science as a newer entrant.
• Researchers from more countries/regions and knowledge domains are becoming involved in using the two databases.
• Developed economies dominate the production of related papers, but developing economies like China, Brazil, and Iran play important roles with different patterns.
• Health/medical sciences and Information Science & Library Science are prominent domains in the use of citation databases.
• Both databases are widely used in meta-analyses, particularly in China.