Index Copernicus

Evaluation methodology

Parameterizing a journal within the meaning of Index Copernicus means checking the level of compliance of a given title with the so-called criteria "a well-functioning scientific journal". The currently applicable criteria or certain requirements (standards) are determined by the scientific community as a result of reflection on essentially two phenomena. The first are new challenges or threats that appear with the increase in opportunities, primarily of a technological nature (using AI to commit plagiarism, the proliferation of so-called predatory journals through the use of mass communication tools - spam, etc.), while the second are the resulting from this development of potential (automation of the publishing process through its digitalization, increasing the reach of publications by promoting them on various portals, websites, databases, etc.). Currently, the evaluation methodology in the ICI Journals Master List database includes 41 parametric criteria.

Methodology for parameterization of scientific journals by Index Copernicus - the so-called ICI Publishing Stars model – allows you to measure the achievements of journal editors in those areas that constitute the vision of an "a well-functioning scientific journal". These achievements are expressed in the degree of reliability of the editorial services provided, compliance with ethical standards, geographical diversity of scientists involved in running the journal, use of available digitalization tools, publishing stability and the level to which the journal has already been noticed in the world of science - its impact.

The primary purpose of parameterization is therefore to determine the extent to which a given editorial office carries out the tasks assigned to a scientific journal, and such tasks include, first of all, reliable description, quick dissemination and effective promotion of research results in the national and international arena serving the development of a given scientific discipline.

The result of the evaluation in the ICI Journals Master List database - the Index Copernicus Value (ICV) indicator is a measure of the parametric power of a scientific journal - it tells us how quickly it will be able to achieve its goals.

Assessment criteria - ICV components

The ICV assessment consists of the sum of points obtained from two components: "quality of the journal" and "journal's impact":

1. QUALITY OF THE JOURNAL – measured based on fulfilling the criteria of the ICI Publishing Stars model, which is currently focused around two aspects of journal working, namely its digitalisation and internalisation. It consists of the following elements:

• Standards – adjusting presentation of a material published in a journal to international requirements is approved as an editorial standard. These are for example such elements as: clear and aesthetic layout of articles and the whole journal, publication of the review procedure or contribution of the reviewers with outside affiliation that are a foundation crucial for journal sustainable development. In this area, Editorial offices are primarily asked about reviewing model that is adopted by a journal or requirement of various authors’ statements aimed at verification of respecting publishing ethic.

• Stability – frequency and regularity of a journal on the market lead to editorial-management efficiency evaluation of an editorial team. Regularity in the subsequent journal issues publishing is an important element of evaluation in prestigious international databases.

• Digitalization– availability of an online journal is a great medium to its promotion. Readiness for integration with databases and ease of access to the published content are the criteria, non-compliance of which may form a barrier that prevent the journal from development, but fulfillment of those criteria is an impulse for development and reaching out scientists’ home and abroad. In “digitalization” area, Editorial offices communicate, for example information on periodical indexation in scientific databases, assign DOI numbers to scientific articles or publish them in the “ahead of print” mode. Since 2017, Index Copernicus Team has introduced additional criterion, namely information about the content of particular issues – metadata of scientific articles and attachment bibliography for the period of at least 4 years preceding the year when the questionnaire was submitted.

• Internationalization – number of language versions of both journal website, and journal content, contribution of the authors and reviewers with outside affiliation influence development of international cooperation, increase its reach, visibility, and impact of the scientific journal.

2. JOURNAL'S IMPACT – determined by analyzing citation trends of journals indexed in the Web of Science and Scopus databases, which reflects the intensity with which the journal has already been noticed in the scientific world. It consists of:

• Journal's citation – calculated on the basis of IF (Impact Factor) and SJR (SCImago Journal Rank) indicators,
• Journal's citation dynamics – measured on the basis of changes in the values ​​of the IF and Total Cites indicators.

The scoring method

The algorithm awarding points for the areas of "quality of the journal" and "journal's impact" was developed by Index Copernicus analysts. Only journals indexed in the Web of Science and/or Scopus database receive points for "journal's impact".

In order to separate a group of journals that have already been noticed in the world of science (have the power of influence), it was assumed that the sum of ICV points that can be obtained by a journal not indexed in the Web of Science and/or Scopus database (i.e. for "quality of the journal" alone) is equal to 100.

The number of points obtained by journals for "journal's impact" depends on the level of Impact Factor and/or SJR and Total Cites citation indicators in the 2 years preceding the year of assessment. For this reason, the maximum total number of ICV points that a journal can obtain is determined by the maximum value of the given citation indicators.

Data verification

Index Copernicus International thanks to annual evaluations solicit and process detailed information on scientific journals from all around the world. After sending completed evaluation questionnaire by Editorial office, provided information is then verified in three steps. The first step has a systemic character – a specially prepared algorithm is aimed at indicating which provided information may turn out to be false. The second step consist in verification of information that may be wrong. Data provided in the current questionnaire are compared to date from previous years. The last step is manual data verification, that is checking whether they are in compliance with actual journal functioning. At this step, for instance, the following elements are verified:

• assigning DOI numbers to publications,
• using electronic publishing and editing system,
• keeping statistics of downloading articles from the journal website,
• indexation in databases,
• publishing publications in the “ahead of print” mode.

Providing nonsolid or false information leads to refusal of journal indexation in the ICI Journals Master List database for a given year. Journals which do not meet evaluation standards, do not have enumerated current ICV index will remain rightful owners of the passport in the ICI World of Journals database. Editorial offices are able to regularly update the data about the journal, enter published articles or submit for evaluation in the following year.