ICI Journals Master List 2023 journal evaluation report
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in Uncategorised (3)
We would like to inform you that the process of indexing journals in the ICI Journals Master List database for 2023 has been completed. In accordance with the applicable methodology, the journals were assessed in 41 parameters. Below we present several statistics from the main functional areas of journals that make up the ICV assessment, i.e. standards, stability, digitalization and internationalization. The report presents data as of 4.04.2025.
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Journals applying for indexation
4,966 journals from 85 countries were submitted for indexation. The largest number of journals come from Poland, Ukraine and India. The table presents the 15 countries with the largest number of journals submitted for indexation.
Among the journals submitted for evaluation, the largest number of periodicals represent social sciences (without indicating a specific specialization) and the smallest number represent neuroscience*.
*The ICI Journals Master List database uses an original classification of areas of science. Journal representatives can choose a leading area and additional areas, including general (such as social sciences) and specific (such as business, management and accounting).
Of the submitted journals, 84% (4,148 titles) were indexed. Of the 818 journals not indexed:
• 203 journals did not meet the indexation criteria described in the evaluation procedure (primarily due to publishing an insufficient number of scientific articles in the year under evaluation);
• 615 journals were refused indexation (for declaring false information in the evaluation questionnaire or for not being able to confirm the provision of reliable editorial services).
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Indexed journals
ICV points
The largest number of journals with an ICV value above 100 come from the social sciences, accounting for 39% of the population. The dominant ICV value, which was obtained by 454 journals, is 100 points.
• The highest ICV index was obtained by a journal from the area of biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology in the field of natural sciences. The value of the index is 230.5 ICV points.
• The highest, average ICV index for 2023 was obtained by journals in the field of natural sciences.
• The greatest diversity in terms of the achieved ICV exists among journals in the field of natural sciences.
Publishing standards – article metadata and peer review
Among the indexed journals, almost all publish both keywords in english and author affiliations in the article metadata. Most editors also decide to include the dates of submission of manuscripts. Not all journals use the double-blind review model; instead, they choose the single-blind or open review model.
The largest percentage of journals that do not use the double-blind peer review model is found among titles belonging to the field of natural sciences (36% of the population).
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Publishing stability
Among the journals indexed in the ICI Journals Master List 2023 database, the largest number were published quarterly (4 issues per year); 36% of them published combined issues. 121 titles had publication delays - the largest number occurred among semi-annuals (also 36%).
12 titles had a 100-year history, of which 10 were affiliated with Polish institutions and 2 with Swiss ones. The oldest journal comes from Poland (established in 1906).
Digitalization
Among the journals indexed in the ICI Journals Master List 2023 database, over 30% do not use tools to measure article views and downloads statistics and do not use an electronic publishing and editing system. The fact that 17% of editorial offices do not use tools to verify the originality of manuscripts (so-called anti-plagiarism) should be considered disturbing, of which 10% (74 titles) are journals indexed in the Web of Science and/or Scopus databases.
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Internationalization
More than half of journals in 2023 had only one language version of their website, in 20% of cases it was not English. Similarly, more than 50% of editorial offices published articles in only one language, of which 10% were texts in a language other than English.
Of the 457 journals that did not publish articles in english, almost 20% of them also did not disseminate metadata in the English version (title, keywords, abstract). These are journals from China, Georgia, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Poland, Romania, Turkey, and Ukraine.
The highest average percentage of scientists with foreign affiliation was obtained by journals in the field of natural sciences.