The Yale Web of Science is a powerful research platform that provides access to a vast array of scientific and scholarly literature. As a leading research institution, Yale University has leveraged this tool to facilitate cutting-edge research and academic excellence. The Web of Science is a comprehensive database that indexes over 12,000 journals, 150,000 conference proceedings, and 60,000 books, covering a wide range of disciplines, including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), social sciences, and humanities.
Introduction to the Web of Science
The Web of Science is a subscription-based service provided by Clarivate Analytics, a leading company in the field of citation indexing and research analytics. The platform offers a range of tools and features that enable researchers to search, analyze, and visualize scientific literature, including citation indexing, which allows users to track the impact and influence of specific research papers and authors. The Web of Science also provides access to a range of other databases, including the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE), the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), and the Arts & Humanities Citation Index (AHCI).
Navigating the Web of Science Interface
The Web of Science interface is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, with a range of features and tools that facilitate efficient searching and analysis. The platform offers a basic search function, which allows users to search for specific keywords, authors, or topics, as well as an advanced search function, which enables users to refine their searches using a range of criteria, including publication date, author affiliation, and citation count. The Web of Science also provides a range of visualization tools, including co-citation maps and histograms, which enable users to analyze and visualize complex data sets.
| Database | Description | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) | Covers over 8,500 journals in the sciences, including physics, chemistry, and biology | 1900-present |
| Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) | Covers over 3,000 journals in the social sciences, including economics, psychology, and sociology | 1900-present |
| Arts & Humanities Citation Index (AHCI) | Covers over 1,700 journals in the arts and humanities, including philosophy, literature, and history | 1975-present |
Advanced Search Techniques
The Web of Science offers a range of advanced search techniques that enable users to refine their searches and retrieve relevant results. These techniques include the use of Boolean operators, which allow users to combine search terms using logical operators such as AND, OR, and NOT, as well as the use of wildcards and proximity operators, which enable users to search for variations of a specific term or phrase. The Web of Science also provides a range of search filters, including filters for publication date, author affiliation, and citation count, which enable users to refine their searches and retrieve relevant results.
Using Citation Data to Analyze Research Impact
Citation data is a key component of the Web of Science, providing researchers with a range of metrics and tools to analyze the impact and influence of specific research papers and authors. The Web of Science provides a range of citation metrics, including the h-index, which measures the productivity and citation impact of a researcher or institution, as well as the i10-index, which measures the number of publications with at least 10 citations. The Web of Science also provides a range of visualization tools, including co-citation maps and histograms, which enable users to analyze and visualize complex citation data sets.
- h-index: measures the productivity and citation impact of a researcher or institution
- i10-index: measures the number of publications with at least 10 citations
- co-citation maps: visualize the relationships between cited references
- histograms: visualize the distribution of citation counts
What is the difference between the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI)?
+The Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) covers over 8,500 journals in the sciences, including physics, chemistry, and biology, while the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) covers over 3,000 journals in the social sciences, including economics, psychology, and sociology.
How do I use the Web of Science to analyze the research impact of a specific author or institution?
+The Web of Science provides a range of citation metrics, including the h-index and i10-index, which can be used to analyze the research impact of a specific author or institution. Users can also use the platform’s visualization tools, including co-citation maps and histograms, to analyze and visualize complex citation data sets.
