Current Situation within Citation-Indexing System Web of Science: Data Bases, Indexes

• Melnikova E.V.

  PhD (Tech.), AllRussian Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of the Russian Academy of Sciences
  Moscow. Russia

Current situation within one of the two world-leading search information systems and data bases on scientific publications Web of Science is discussed. Web of Science indexes information on publications, devoting to the widest spectrum of scientific spheres and directions. The article outlines the role of the system in estimating the researchers’ publication activity as well as the response of scientific community to the results of reseachers’ professional work. The article also marks that it is possible to use the system for detecting advanced, promising scientific ideas and research areas. The author presents detailed characteristic of the system structure, its main indeсes of bibliographic references. Information on the current state of the Web of Science data bases and indeсes is systematized. All data bases are united into three groups; differences of the groups are defined. Recent deployment of the Russian Science Citation Index on Web of Science platform is reflected. The author characterizes the way and principles of the index’ shaping and outlines its significance for popularzation of Russian science through broadening access to the information on Russian scientific publications. The article represents recent data on Web of Science Core Collection - the main data collection of the Web of Science system. The author pays much attention to the newest citation index within Core Collection – Emerging Sources Citation Index. Its distinction from other indeсes of the Core Collection and its role within the Collection are outlined. The article discusses analytic tools functioning on Web of Science platform. The author characterizes their main functions which peep out within special bibliometric procedures. Web of Science’ significance as an efficient tool in scientometric analysis is highlighted. At the same time the necessity of attracting expert groups to provide the all-round estimation of researchers’ work is pointed out.

Keywords: search information system, Web of Science, Garfield, Citation-Indexing System, citation index, index of bibliographic references, RSCI, Russian index of scientific citations (RISC), estimation of scientific activity, scientometric analysis.