Document (#42468)

Author

Kassian, A.
Melikhova, L.

Title

Russian Science Citation Index on the WoS platform : a critical assessment

Source

Journal of documentation. 75(2019) no.5, S.1162-1168

Year

2019

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the journals of the Russian Science Citation Index (RSCI) (Web of Science platform) in respect to publication misconduct and predatory practices. Design/methodology/approach The paper employs formal criteria developed by the Disseropedia of Russian Journals (a.k.a. the Journal Project of the Russian Dissernet). Findings A substantial number of the RSCI journals violate publishing ethics and/or are involved in predatory practices (fake peer-review, plagiarism and self-plagiarism, publication of pseudoscientific papers and so on). The general trend is negative: the number of such journals was higher in July 2018 than in 2015 when the RSCI was launched. The authors propose that this situation is due to the non-transparent and partly defective process of journal selection involved; primarily it can be attributed to problems with the RSCI expert pool. Research limitations/implications Many cases of publication misconduct are inevitably overlooked due to natural limitations of the tools. Originality/value The approach and methods were developed by the Disseropedia of Russian Journals and the Dissernet for the specific local Russian situation, where the scientific and editorial community is corrupt and the institution of reputation does not work properly. The authors believe that the experience may also be helpful for scientists and academic officials from other countries.

Content

Vgl.: https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-02-2019-0033.

Footnote

A preliminary version of this paper was published in Russian in the independent newspaper of Russian scientists Troitsky Variant - Science, August 14, 2018 (https://trv-science.ru/2018/08/14/rsci-2018/). The authors are grateful to Anna Kuleshova (Committee on Publication Ethics of the Russian Association of Science Editors and Publishers, Moscow) who maintains the database of Russian retracted articles (https://rasep.ru/sovet-po-etike/retracted-articles), for her valuable help in RSCI journal list analysis.

Theme

Informetrie

Object

Russian Science Citation Index
Web of Science

Location

RUS

Similar documents (content)

1. Xia, J.; Harmon, J.L.; Connolly, K.G.; Donnelly, R.M.; Anderson, M.R.; Howard, H.A.: Who publishes in "predatory" journals? (2015) 0.18

   0.17603402 = sum of:
     0.17603402 = product of:
       0.8801701 = sum of:
         0.02730496 = weight(abstract_txt:authors in 2040) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.02730496 = score(doc=2040,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.07518628 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.164554 = boost
               4.648501 = idf(docFreq=1150, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.36316413 = fieldWeight in 2040, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               4.648501 = idf(docFreq=1150, maxDocs=44218)
               0.078125 = fieldNorm(doc=2040)
         0.031916693 = weight(abstract_txt:citation in 2040) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.031916693 = score(doc=2040,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.08343011 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.2267377 = boost
               4.896717 = idf(docFreq=897, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.38255602 = fieldWeight in 2040, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               4.896717 = idf(docFreq=897, maxDocs=44218)
               0.078125 = fieldNorm(doc=2040)
         0.061815575 = weight(abstract_txt:publication in 2040) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.061815575 = score(doc=2040,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.14839068 = queryWeight, product of:
               2.0037303 = boost
               5.3321366 = idf(docFreq=580, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.41657317 = fieldWeight in 2040, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               5.3321366 = idf(docFreq=580, maxDocs=44218)
               0.078125 = fieldNorm(doc=2040)
         0.48362875 = weight(abstract_txt:predatory in 2040) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.48362875 = score(doc=2040,freq=4.0), product of:
             0.3218343 = queryWeight, product of:
               2.4093866 = boost
               9.617446 = idf(docFreq=7, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             1.502726 = fieldWeight in 2040, product of:
               2.0 = tf(freq=4.0), with freq of:
                 4.0 = termFreq=4.0
               9.617446 = idf(docFreq=7, maxDocs=44218)
               0.078125 = fieldNorm(doc=2040)
         0.27550414 = weight(abstract_txt:journals in 2040) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.27550414 = score(doc=2040,freq=9.0), product of:
             0.22906682 = queryWeight, product of:
               3.213967 = boost
               5.1316223 = idf(docFreq=709, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             1.202724 = fieldWeight in 2040, product of:
               3.0 = tf(freq=9.0), with freq of:
                 9.0 = termFreq=9.0
               5.1316223 = idf(docFreq=709, maxDocs=44218)
               0.078125 = fieldNorm(doc=2040)
       0.2 = coord(5/25)
   

2. Kirchik, O.; Gingras, Y.; Larivière, V.: Changes in publication languages and citation practices and their effect on the scientific impact of Russian science (1993-2010) (2012) 0.15

   0.14926066 = sum of:
     0.14926066 = product of:
       0.6219194 = sum of:
         0.02184397 = weight(abstract_txt:authors in 284) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.02184397 = score(doc=284,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.07518628 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.164554 = boost
               4.648501 = idf(docFreq=1150, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.2905313 = fieldWeight in 284, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               4.648501 = idf(docFreq=1150, maxDocs=44218)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=284)
         0.029290697 = weight(abstract_txt:practices in 284) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.029290697 = score(doc=284,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.09142621 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.2841793 = boost
               5.126004 = idf(docFreq=713, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.32037526 = fieldWeight in 284, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               5.126004 = idf(docFreq=713, maxDocs=44218)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=284)
         0.01877388 = weight(abstract_txt:science in 284) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.01877388 = score(doc=284,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.077800795 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.4508682 = boost
               3.8609126 = idf(docFreq=2529, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.24130704 = fieldWeight in 284, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               3.8609126 = idf(docFreq=2529, maxDocs=44218)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=284)
         0.069936335 = weight(abstract_txt:publication in 284) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.069936335 = score(doc=284,freq=2.0), product of:
             0.14839068 = queryWeight, product of:
               2.0037303 = boost
               5.3321366 = idf(docFreq=580, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.47129872 = fieldWeight in 284, product of:
               1.4142135 = tf(freq=2.0), with freq of:
                 2.0 = termFreq=2.0
               5.3321366 = idf(docFreq=580, maxDocs=44218)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=284)
         0.16427894 = weight(abstract_txt:journals in 284) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.16427894 = score(doc=284,freq=5.0), product of:
             0.22906682 = queryWeight, product of:
               3.213967 = boost
               5.1316223 = idf(docFreq=709, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.717166 = fieldWeight in 284, product of:
               2.236068 = tf(freq=5.0), with freq of:
                 5.0 = termFreq=5.0
               5.1316223 = idf(docFreq=709, maxDocs=44218)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=284)
         0.31779554 = weight(abstract_txt:russian in 284) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.31779554 = score(doc=284,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.6462341 = queryWeight, product of:
               5.9135175 = boost
               7.8682456 = idf(docFreq=45, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.49176535 = fieldWeight in 284, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               7.8682456 = idf(docFreq=45, maxDocs=44218)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=284)
       0.24 = coord(6/25)
   

3. Mukherjee, B.: Do open-access journals in library and information science have any scholarly impact? : a bibliometric study of selected open-access journals using Google Scholar (2009) 0.14

   0.1365255 = sum of:
     0.1365255 = product of:
       0.42664218 = sum of:
         0.021706676 = weight(abstract_txt:number in 2745) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.021706676 = score(doc=2745,freq=2.0), product of:
             0.059425086 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.0353215 = boost
               4.132649 = idf(docFreq=1927, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.365278 = fieldWeight in 2745, product of:
               1.4142135 = tf(freq=2.0), with freq of:
                 2.0 = termFreq=2.0
               4.132649 = idf(docFreq=1927, maxDocs=44218)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=2745)
         0.02184397 = weight(abstract_txt:authors in 2745) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.02184397 = score(doc=2745,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.07518628 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.164554 = boost
               4.648501 = idf(docFreq=1150, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.2905313 = fieldWeight in 2745, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               4.648501 = idf(docFreq=1150, maxDocs=44218)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=2745)
         0.04658173 = weight(abstract_txt:index in 2745) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.04658173 = score(doc=2745,freq=4.0), product of:
             0.07847079 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.1897188 = boost
               4.74895 = idf(docFreq=1040, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.59361875 = fieldWeight in 2745, product of:
               2.0 = tf(freq=4.0), with freq of:
                 4.0 = termFreq=4.0
               4.74895 = idf(docFreq=1040, maxDocs=44218)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=2745)
         0.044225063 = weight(abstract_txt:citation in 2745) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.044225063 = score(doc=2745,freq=3.0), product of:
             0.08343011 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.2267377 = boost
               4.896717 = idf(docFreq=897, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.53008515 = fieldWeight in 2745, product of:
               1.7320508 = tf(freq=3.0), with freq of:
                 3.0 = termFreq=3.0
               4.896717 = idf(docFreq=897, maxDocs=44218)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=2745)
         0.029680934 = weight(abstract_txt:journal in 2745) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.029680934 = score(doc=2745,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.09223646 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.2898573 = boost
               5.1486683 = idf(docFreq=697, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.32179177 = fieldWeight in 2745, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               5.1486683 = idf(docFreq=697, maxDocs=44218)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=2745)
         0.01877388 = weight(abstract_txt:science in 2745) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.01877388 = score(doc=2745,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.077800795 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.4508682 = boost
               3.8609126 = idf(docFreq=2529, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.24130704 = fieldWeight in 2745, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               3.8609126 = idf(docFreq=2529, maxDocs=44218)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=2745)
         0.04945246 = weight(abstract_txt:publication in 2745) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.04945246 = score(doc=2745,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.14839068 = queryWeight, product of:
               2.0037303 = boost
               5.3321366 = idf(docFreq=580, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.33325854 = fieldWeight in 2745, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               5.3321366 = idf(docFreq=580, maxDocs=44218)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=2745)
         0.19437745 = weight(abstract_txt:journals in 2745) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.19437745 = score(doc=2745,freq=7.0), product of:
             0.22906682 = queryWeight, product of:
               3.213967 = boost
               5.1316223 = idf(docFreq=709, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.84856224 = fieldWeight in 2745, product of:
               2.6457512 = tf(freq=7.0), with freq of:
                 7.0 = termFreq=7.0
               5.1316223 = idf(docFreq=709, maxDocs=44218)
               0.0625 = fieldNorm(doc=2745)
       0.32 = coord(8/25)
   

4. Leydesdorff, L.: Caveats for the use of citation indicators in research and journal evaluations (2008) 0.13

   0.1286905 = sum of:
     0.1286905 = product of:
       0.4596089 = sum of:
         0.029113583 = weight(abstract_txt:index in 1361) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.029113583 = score(doc=1361,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.07847079 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.1897188 = boost
               4.74895 = idf(docFreq=1040, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.37101173 = fieldWeight in 1361, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               4.74895 = idf(docFreq=1040, maxDocs=44218)
               0.078125 = fieldNorm(doc=1361)
         0.055281326 = weight(abstract_txt:citation in 1361) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.055281326 = score(doc=1361,freq=3.0), product of:
             0.08343011 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.2267377 = boost
               4.896717 = idf(docFreq=897, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.6626064 = fieldWeight in 1361, product of:
               1.7320508 = tf(freq=3.0), with freq of:
                 3.0 = termFreq=3.0
               4.896717 = idf(docFreq=897, maxDocs=44218)
               0.078125 = fieldNorm(doc=1361)
         0.036613367 = weight(abstract_txt:practices in 1361) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.036613367 = score(doc=1361,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.09142621 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.2841793 = boost
               5.126004 = idf(docFreq=713, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.40046906 = fieldWeight in 1361, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               5.126004 = idf(docFreq=713, maxDocs=44218)
               0.078125 = fieldNorm(doc=1361)
         0.05246897 = weight(abstract_txt:journal in 1361) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.05246897 = score(doc=1361,freq=2.0), product of:
             0.09223646 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.2898573 = boost
               5.1486683 = idf(docFreq=697, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.56885284 = fieldWeight in 1361, product of:
               1.4142135 = tf(freq=2.0), with freq of:
                 2.0 = termFreq=2.0
               5.1486683 = idf(docFreq=697, maxDocs=44218)
               0.078125 = fieldNorm(doc=1361)
         0.04064664 = weight(abstract_txt:science in 1361) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.04064664 = score(doc=1361,freq=3.0), product of:
             0.077800795 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.4508682 = boost
               3.8609126 = idf(docFreq=2529, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.522445 = fieldWeight in 1361, product of:
               1.7320508 = tf(freq=3.0), with freq of:
                 3.0 = termFreq=3.0
               3.8609126 = idf(docFreq=2529, maxDocs=44218)
               0.078125 = fieldNorm(doc=1361)
         0.061815575 = weight(abstract_txt:publication in 1361) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.061815575 = score(doc=1361,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.14839068 = queryWeight, product of:
               2.0037303 = boost
               5.3321366 = idf(docFreq=580, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.41657317 = fieldWeight in 1361, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               5.3321366 = idf(docFreq=580, maxDocs=44218)
               0.078125 = fieldNorm(doc=1361)
         0.18366943 = weight(abstract_txt:journals in 1361) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.18366943 = score(doc=1361,freq=4.0), product of:
             0.22906682 = queryWeight, product of:
               3.213967 = boost
               5.1316223 = idf(docFreq=709, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.801816 = fieldWeight in 1361, product of:
               2.0 = tf(freq=4.0), with freq of:
                 4.0 = termFreq=4.0
               5.1316223 = idf(docFreq=709, maxDocs=44218)
               0.078125 = fieldNorm(doc=1361)
       0.28 = coord(7/25)
   

5. Ni, C.; Shaw, D.; Lind, S.M.; Ding, Y.: Journal impact and proximity : an assessment using bibliographic features (2013) 0.13

   0.12736097 = sum of:
     0.12736097 = product of:
       0.45486063 = sum of:
         0.04699634 = weight(abstract_txt:number in 686) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.04699634 = score(doc=686,freq=6.0), product of:
             0.059425086 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.0353215 = boost
               4.132649 = idf(docFreq=1927, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.79085016 = fieldWeight in 686, product of:
               2.4494898 = tf(freq=6.0), with freq of:
                 6.0 = termFreq=6.0
               4.132649 = idf(docFreq=1927, maxDocs=44218)
               0.078125 = fieldNorm(doc=686)
         0.02730496 = weight(abstract_txt:authors in 686) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.02730496 = score(doc=686,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.07518628 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.164554 = boost
               4.648501 = idf(docFreq=1150, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.36316413 = fieldWeight in 686, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               4.648501 = idf(docFreq=1150, maxDocs=44218)
               0.078125 = fieldNorm(doc=686)
         0.031916693 = weight(abstract_txt:citation in 686) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.031916693 = score(doc=686,freq=1.0), product of:
             0.08343011 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.2267377 = boost
               4.896717 = idf(docFreq=897, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.38255602 = fieldWeight in 686, product of:
               1.0 = tf(freq=1.0), with freq of:
                 1.0 = termFreq=1.0
               4.896717 = idf(docFreq=897, maxDocs=44218)
               0.078125 = fieldNorm(doc=686)
         0.09816045 = weight(abstract_txt:journal in 686) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.09816045 = score(doc=686,freq=7.0), product of:
             0.09223646 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.2898573 = boost
               5.1486683 = idf(docFreq=697, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             1.0642262 = fieldWeight in 686, product of:
               2.6457512 = tf(freq=7.0), with freq of:
                 7.0 = termFreq=7.0
               5.1486683 = idf(docFreq=697, maxDocs=44218)
               0.078125 = fieldNorm(doc=686)
         0.033187844 = weight(abstract_txt:science in 686) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.033187844 = score(doc=686,freq=2.0), product of:
             0.077800795 = queryWeight, product of:
               1.4508682 = boost
               3.8609126 = idf(docFreq=2529, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.42657462 = fieldWeight in 686, product of:
               1.4142135 = tf(freq=2.0), with freq of:
                 2.0 = termFreq=2.0
               3.8609126 = idf(docFreq=2529, maxDocs=44218)
               0.078125 = fieldNorm(doc=686)
         0.08742043 = weight(abstract_txt:publication in 686) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.08742043 = score(doc=686,freq=2.0), product of:
             0.14839068 = queryWeight, product of:
               2.0037303 = boost
               5.3321366 = idf(docFreq=580, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.5891234 = fieldWeight in 686, product of:
               1.4142135 = tf(freq=2.0), with freq of:
                 2.0 = termFreq=2.0
               5.3321366 = idf(docFreq=580, maxDocs=44218)
               0.078125 = fieldNorm(doc=686)
         0.1298739 = weight(abstract_txt:journals in 686) [ClassicSimilarity], result of:
           0.1298739 = score(doc=686,freq=2.0), product of:
             0.22906682 = queryWeight, product of:
               3.213967 = boost
               5.1316223 = idf(docFreq=709, maxDocs=44218)
               0.013888843 = queryNorm
             0.5669695 = fieldWeight in 686, product of:
               1.4142135 = tf(freq=2.0), with freq of:
                 2.0 = termFreq=2.0
               5.1316223 = idf(docFreq=709, maxDocs=44218)
               0.078125 = fieldNorm(doc=686)
       0.28 = coord(7/25)