Scopus author search provides a profile, publications, the number of citations, and the h-index of a researcher by his/her name, affiliation, or ORCID in Scopus. Scopus Preview is also available to provide free access to basic information about authors and journals. For PhD scholars, it is undoubtedly heard that paper should be published in Scopus indexed journals. However, how can you verify an author's track record or verify that a journal is indeed indexed? Here we'll guide you through it step by step.
Scopus is a big abstract and citation database provided by Elsevier. A Scopus author search can be used to find a researcher’s profile in the database. Each profile includes:
• A unique Scopus Author ID
• The list of documents that are to be published.
• Total citations and h-index
• Affiliation history and co-authors
• Subject areas of research
It is used by scholars to verify their own profile, locate specialists in their fields and consider a supervisor’s or reviewer’s publications.
How to Do a Scopus Author Search (Step by Step)
1. To open the Scopus website: Click on the Authors tab.
2. Type the author’s last name and first name or initials.
3. Use affiliation (university or institute) to reduce the number of results or use ORCID to find the most accurate match.
4. Select the appropriate profile to see documents, citations and h-index.
Tip: Common names can yield multiple profiles. Avoid confusion by searching for an ORCID or adding the institution.
What If Your Scopus Author Profile Is Wrong?
What Is Scopus Preview?
Scopus Preview is a free, limited version of Scopus, no subscription is required. It lets you:
• Complete a simple Scopus author search by name
• Look up affiliations
• Review Journal information (CiteScore, subject category etc.)
It’s not the full version of a paid subscription, with detailed analytics and advanced search capabilities. However, for rapid checks, when your institution does not have access, Scopus Preview is very helpful.
How to Check Scopus Indexed Journals
When publishing in a non-indexed or discontinued journal, it will hurt your thesis and career. Just prior to submission, check whether the Journal is one of the authentic Scopus indexed journals:
1. Search the Scopus sources list. Perform a search on the sources list in Scopus. Type in the journal title or the ISSN.
2. Check the status. Be sure it is not discontinued.
3. Check out the CiteScore and quartile. These indicate the journal’s performance in the subject area.
4. Match the publisher. Check the web address and publishing information are correct. Fake journals are commonly named after real journals.
5. Look for red flags. Predatory journals include guaranteed acceptance, very rapid review and unclear peer review.
Scopus reviews titles periodically and if the quality is not up to the standard, the journals can be removed. Even if a journal was indexed last year, it may not be indexed today, so make sure to check.
Why Scopus Matters for Your Research Career
• Scopus publications are accepted by many universities and funding agencies in India and abroad for PhD and grant applications and for promotion. With good Scopus visibility you can:
• Build credibility with supervisors and reviewers
• Get discovered by collaborators
• Track your citation impact over time
It is advisable to perform an author search on your name on a regular basis to ensure that your profile is complete and accurate
Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Trusting a journal’s own claim of “Scopus indexed” without checking the source list
• Ignoring duplicate author profiles
• Using different name spellings across papers
• Not linking your ORCID
To support Scopus associating your work with a single profile, all papers should use the same name format.
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Thoughts
A short while search on Scopus author search, a glance at Scopus Preview and an eagle-eyed reading of Scopus indexed journals can save you of wasting time and submissions. Take a couple of minutes to check before posting, and maintain your author profile. Looking for advice on selecting the journal or getting your paper ready for publication? Reach out to Samta Research Alliance for expert advice.
