Web of Science

Web of Science is a comprehensive research platform that provides access to a wide range of scholarly literature, including scientific articles, conference proceedings, and book chapters. It is a multidisciplinary database that covers various fields such as medicine, engineering, natural sciences, social sciences, and arts and humanities. The Web of Science facilitates the discovery of research material for academics, researchers, and students by offering tools for search, analysis, and citation tracking.

Overview

The Web of Science is managed by Clarivate Analytics, formerly part of Thomson Reuters. It was introduced in the early 1960s by Dr. Eugene Garfield, the founder of the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI). The platform is designed to provide users with comprehensive and reliable research content through its citation databases, which include the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), and Arts & Humanities Citation Index (AHCI).

Components

The core collection of Web of Science includes several databases:

• Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE): Covers significant journals in the scientific field, including biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering.
• Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI): Focuses on essential journals in the social sciences, including psychology, sociology, and education.
• Arts & Humanities Citation Index (AHCI): Provides access to leading journals in the arts and humanities, such as literature, history, and philosophy.
• Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI): Includes newer scholarly journals that are in the process of being evaluated for inclusion in the main citation indexes.
• Conference Proceedings Citation Index (CPCI): Offers bibliographic information and cited references from engineering, scientific, and social sciences conferences.

Features

Web of Science offers several features that enhance research capabilities:

• Citation Tracking: Allows users to track how often a work has been cited and to identify influential papers or authors in a specific field.
• Search and Analysis Tools: Provides advanced search options and analytical tools to refine search results and analyze research trends.
• Personalization Options: Users can create personal accounts to save searches, set up citation alerts, and customize settings for a more efficient research experience.

Access

Access to the Web of Science is typically provided through institutional subscriptions, such as universities, research institutions, and libraries. Some content may be available to individuals through personal subscriptions or on a pay-per-view basis.

Impact

The Web of Science plays a crucial role in the academic and research community by facilitating access to high-quality research materials. It supports researchers in their quest for knowledge, aids in the discovery of emerging trends, and contributes to the advancement of science and scholarship across disciplines.

See Also

• PubMed
• Scopus
• Google Scholar
• Academic publishing