Ranking journals: Could Google Scholar Metrics be an alternative to Journal Citation Reports and Scimago Journal Rank?

TL;DR

Google Scholar Metrics offers a potentially valuable, accessible alternative to traditional journal ranking tools like JCR and SJR, with unique coverage and features despite some limitations.

Contribution

This paper compares Google Scholar Metrics with established journal evaluation products, highlighting its potential as a competitive alternative.

Findings

Google Scholar Metrics has broader coverage than traditional tools.

It provides useful visualization and search features.

Despite shortcomings, it is helpful for authors and editors.

Abstract

The launch of Google Scholar Metrics as a tool for assessing scientific journals may be serious competition for Thomson Reuters Journal Citation Reports, and for Scopus powered Scimago Journal Rank. A review of these bibliometric journal evaluation products is performed. We compare their main characteristics from different approaches: coverage, indexing policies, search and visualization, bibliometric indicators, results analysis options, economic cost and differences in their ranking of journals. Despite its shortcomings, Google Scholar Metrics is a helpful tool for authors and editors in identifying core journals. As an increasingly useful tool for ranking scientific journals, it may also challenge established journals products