Index Copernicus International

Stage 1.

Detailed Parametrical analysis

The following groups of parameters are evaluated:

• Scientific quality: 580 base points (58,0%)
• Editorial quality: 200 base points (20,0%)
• International availability: 135 base points (13,5%)
• Frequency-Regularity-Stability: 50 base points (5,0%)
• Technical quality: 35 base points (3,5%)

Stage 2.

Negative score analysis

Negative score is given for:

• irregular or late issuance. Late by up to one publishing period (-30), joint issues (-50), late more than one publishing period (-60);
• Unethical advertisement placement: within an article (-60), directly before/after an article (-40).

Stage 3.

Expert peer-review

Frequency-Regularity-Stability: 50 base points (5.0%)

• Scientific significance of the published material [±20]
• Up-to-date content 0-20 points.
• Educational value 0- 20 points.

How do we calculate the Index Copernicus Value (ICV)

First, Base Points (BP) are converted into 10 points Total Basic Score (TBS), then:

• For journals indexed in the Current Contents, the Index Copernicus Value (ICV) calculations are based on the following formula:
  9+[(TBS)×(IF)] (where IF = impact factor value).
  This formula ensures that the journals indexed in the Current Contents have a minimum ICV of =9 points.
• For the rest of journals which are NOT indexed in the Current Contents TBS=ICV

I. Scientific Quality

The following parameters are being evaluated:

• International indexation. Three levels of indexation have been defined:
  • Basic level - indexation in international bibliographic databases EXCEPT Index Medicus/MEDLINE and Current Contents.
  • MEDLINE level (indexation in Index Medicus/MEDLINE). The score can be lowered if a journal does not submit or is late with submission of XML files according to Medline requirements.
  • Indexation is carried out at the Philadelphia Institute of Scientific Information's Master Journal List (based on Impact Factor). IF is used in the calculation algorithm of Index Copernicus Value (ICV) - see above.
• Annual percent of original research papers
  An original research paper is one, which presents the results of empiric investigation (clinical or laboratorial) divided into the following sections: background, material and methods, results, discussion, conclusions, references. The percentage of the original work published in a journal reflects its character (scientific or educational) and indicates the potential interest of researchers to publish there.
• The number of papers published annually from centers outside of the journal's country of origin indirectly indicates a degree of the journal's acceptance on the international market. The more international publications - the higher the score.
• Number of all papers published on annual basis
  Reflects potential interest of the authors to publish in a journal as well as acceptance of a journal. Only papers published in regular issues are considered. Papers published in special issues or supplements are not counted as they are not considered to undergo the regular peer-review process. It will also be assessed if the papers published in a journal come from a source associated with the publisher or editorial board only, lowering the IC score.
• The International Editorial Board adds to the score, for it creates a chance to further the journal's development.

II. Editorial quality

• Cover page. All of the following items should be visible on the cover page: title, ISSN, frequency, volume/issue/part number, month/year.
• The leading element of editorial quality is the uniform composition of presented manuscripts and adherence to a journal's instruction for authors. The following parameters are evaluated:
  • The summary should be about 200-250 words and have a structured form, i.e. reflect structure of an article (background, material and methods, results, conclusion). Non-structural summaries consisting of less than 200 words will receive a penalty points.
  • Key words should not repeat the title of the manuscript. Ideally, authors should use key words selected from the MeSH catalogue.
  • Uniform presentation of original manuscripts. Research works should be divided into background, material and methods, results, discussion, conclusions, references.
  • References should be presented in consecutive order (as they are referred to in the text). The first six authors should be given. Journal title abbreviations should be in the Medline standard. Citations in the text should be marked by Arab numbers in brackets or in the upper. Each citation item should be placed in a separate paragraph.
    Alphabetical order, "en block" presentation or incorrect abbreviation of journal titles lowers the score.
• Information for authors should be included in each journal issue, and should contain: the general rules of the manuscript evaluation process, disclosing conflicts of interest between the referee and author, the referee and research sponsor, the author and research sponsor, the patient's privacy rights and ethical issues in animal and clinical research (Editorial Policy).
• Detailed editorial and technical information regarding manuscript preparation (Instruction for Authors)
• Editorial information should include a list of Editorial Board members, editorial correspondence addresses, the name and address of the publisher, ISSN and frequency of issuance (monthly, quarterly).
• Advertisements should be placed on editorial pages (at the beginning and/or end of a journal). Advertisement within scientific content, i.e. before, inside and directly after an article is undesirable and lowers the IC score.

III. International availability

International availability is important for the proper development of a scientific journal. Two factors are taken into consideration:
• The language of publication: English is preferable, since this is the universal language of science literature. Journals published in other languages should have full size (200-250 words) structural summaries in English and a bilingual article title as well as table/figure subtitles.
• Internet availability. The internet is an important medium for scientific publications and for the exchange of professional information. It is due to its global availability, speed and low cost of publication, in comparison with printed journals. Internet availability enhances a journal's chance of broadening circulation and accelerating development. Access to editorial information, the table of contents, summaries, full text articles and search tools are evaluated. The preferred language of a website is English.

IV. Frequency-Regularity-Market stability

This group of parameters assesses the editor's publishing/managing efficiency. We evaluate:

• Regularity of issuance, which is an important factor for a journal's stability and is one of the key evaluation parameter in other international indexing databases such as Medline and Current Contents. Journals of an irregular issuance, those which are late, or those which issue joint issues receive a lower score.
• We give additional points to journals for their continued presence on the market.

V. Technical quality

Technical quality assesses proper presentation of the scientific content. The quality of the preprint process, especially desktop publishing (DTP), the ability to print in colour, and the quality of paper (acidfree is preferred) are evaluated. The preferred format of a journal is A4.