Difference between IEEE, SCI, and Scopus
IEEE, SCI, and Scopus are often confused as the same, but they are different in purpose and role in academic publishing. Understanding their difference helps researchers choose the right journal for publication.
What is IEEE?
IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) is a professional organization and a publisher of journals and conferences, mainly in engineering and technology fields.
- Publishes journals and conferences
- Focuses on Electrical, Electronics, Computer Science, and IT
- Has its own digital library (IEEE Xplore)
- Not an indexing database
What is SCI?
SCI (Science Citation Index) is an indexing database managed by Clarivate Analytics.
- Indexes high-quality journals
- Used for Impact Factor calculation
- Includes SCI and SCIE (Expanded)
- Very strict journal selection criteria
What is Scopus?
Scopus is a citation and abstract indexing database owned by Elsevier.
- Indexes journals, conferences, and books
- Covers engineering, science, medical, and social sciences
- Provides metrics like CiteScore, SJR, SNIP
Key Differences
| Feature | IEEE | SCI | Scopus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Publisher | Indexing Database | Indexing Database |
| Organization | IEEE | Clarivate | Elsevier |
| Purpose | Publishes research | Measures journal quality (Impact Factor) | Indexes & tracks citations |
| Impact Factor | No | Yes | No (uses CiteScore) |
| Quality Level | High (for IEEE journals) | Very High | High to Medium |
Common Confusions
- IEEE journal can be SCI indexed
- IEEE journal can be Scopus indexed
- SCI and Scopus are not publishers
- Impact Factor belongs only to SCI journals
Which One Is Better?
- IEEE: Best for engineering and technology journals
- SCI: Best for high-impact research and PhD requirements
- Scopus: Widely accepted for academic promotions and indexing
Conclusion
IEEE is a publisher, while SCI and Scopus are indexing databases. A journal may be published by IEEE and indexed in SCI or Scopus. Researchers should always check whether a journal is indexed before submission.