Lesson 2: Databases related to Health and Science.

What is an academic (scientific) journal?

A peer-reviewed or refereed periodical in which scholarship related to a particular academic discipline is published.

What is the main function of scientific journals?

To introduce new research and allow scrutiny and critique of existing research.

How is the reputation of a scientific journal established?

Over time, based on quality, prestige, and scientific validity.

What ensures quality standards in prestigious journals?

Peer review (arbitration) within the scientific community.

What does peer review attempt to ensure?

Minimum quality standards and scientific validity.

Are most scientific journals specialized?

Yes, most journals are highly specialized.

What do highly specialized journals publish?

Research on specific topics.

Which journals are examples of non-specialized journals?

Nature and Science.

What is a bibliographic database?

An organized digital collection of bibliographic records referencing published literature.

What types of documents are included in bibliographic databases?

Journal articles, reviews, patents, and conference proceedings.

Which databases are mentioned in Unit 2?

Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed.

Are bibliographic databases primary sources?

No, they are tools used to find primary sources.

How can you find a scientific article?

By going directly to the journal webpage or by using a bibliographic database.

What is a search equation?

A combination of keywords using Boolean operators.

What is the purpose of Boolean operators in searches?

To combine terms and control search results.

What does the asterisk (*) do in database searches?

It broadens the search by retrieving word variations with the same root.

What is the Impact Factor (IF)?

A measure of the importance of a scientific journal.

What does the Impact Factor reflect?

The average number of citations to articles published in a journal.

How is the Impact Factor calculated?

Number of citations in JCR divided by the number of articles published in the previous two years.

What does a high Impact Factor indicate?

A journal is considered more influential or prestigious.

Why do specialized journals often have low Impact Factors?

Because they publish research for a smaller, specific audience.

What is a journal quartile?

A ranking of journals within a subject category based on Impact Factor.

How many quartiles exist?

Four: Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4.

What does Q1 represent?

The top 25% of journals in a subject area.

Which journals are considered the most prestigious?

Journals in the first quartile (Q1).

What is Journal Citation Reports (JCR)?

A tool that provides ranking information and Impact Factors for journals.

Where is Journal Citation Reports accessed from?

Through the Web of Science platform.

What is the h-index?

An author-level metric measuring productivity and citation impact.

How is the h-index defined?

An author has h papers with at least h citations each.

What rule is used to calculate the h-index?

Check if the number of citations is greater than or equal to the publication’s position.

What is one limitation of the h-index?

It is not useful for early-career researchers.

What is Web of Science?

A subscription-based scientific citation indexing service.

What information does a citation report in Web of Science provide?

h-index of the author, citations per year, and total citations.

What is PubMed?

A free search engine accessing the MEDLINE database for life sciences and biomedical topics.

Can PubMed perform advanced searches and filters?

Yes, similar to Web of Science.