Does Scopus and SCI index papers with review, or are all papers shown automatically once a journal is indexed?
Do Scopus and SCI Review Papers Before Indexing, or Are All Papers Shown Automatically?
Many researchers believe that once a journal is indexed in Scopus or SCI (Web of Science), every paper published in that journal will automatically appear in the database without any checking. This is a misunderstanding. Scopus and SCI do not directly review individual research papers for quality like a journal reviewer does, but they strictly evaluate journals and continuously monitor their content quality.
When a journal applies for indexing in Scopus or SCI, the database first conducts a detailed evaluation of the journal. This includes checking the peer review process, editorial board quality, publication ethics, regularity of issues, citation performance, and academic standards. Only after passing this journal-level review is the journal accepted for indexing.
Once a journal is indexed, the papers published in that journal are normally included in the database. However, this does not mean that Scopus or SCI blindly index all papers without any control. They regularly re-evaluate indexed journals. If a journal starts publishing low-quality or unethical papers, or violates publishing standards, the journal can be discontinued or removed from indexing.
Scopus and SCI do not perform peer review of each individual paper before indexing it. The responsibility for reviewing papers lies with the journal itself through its peer review system. Scopus and SCI trust the journal’s review process, but they audit the journal’s performance periodically.
Another important point is that indexing is not always retroactive. If a journal becomes indexed in Scopus or SCI in a particular year, only papers published from that year onward are usually included. Older issues may or may not be indexed, depending on the agreement between the journal and the database.
It is also possible for papers to be removed later if the journal is discontinued from Scopus or SCI. If a journal is found to be publishing poor-quality content, fake peer reviews, or unethical research, Scopus or Web of Science may stop indexing that journal, and its future papers will not appear in the database.
In conclusion, Scopus and SCI do not review each individual paper before indexing it. They evaluate and monitor journals instead. Papers appear in Scopus or SCI because they are published in an approved indexed journal. However, continuous quality monitoring ensures that only journals maintaining standards remain indexed.