SJR and SNIP: two new journal metrics in Elsevier's Scopus

Abstract

This paper introduces two journal metrics recently endorsed by Elsevier's Scopus: SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) and Source Normalized Impact per Paper (SNIP). SJR weights citations according to the status of the citing journal and aims to measure journal prestige rather than popularity. SNIP compensates for disparities in citation potential and aims to account for differences in topicality across research fields.The paper underlines important points to keep in mind when using journal metrics in general; it presents the main features of the two indicators, comparing them one with another, and with a journal impact measure similar to Thomson Reuters' journal impact factor; and it discusses their potentialities in regard to specific interests of a user and theoretical beliefs about the nature of the concept of journal performance. Article © Lisa Colledge, Félix de Moya Anegan, M'hamed el Aisati, Vicente P Guerrero-Bote, Carmen López-Illescas and Henk F Moed.