Indexing and metric verification
How to verify journal indexing claims
Indexing claims are one of the most common ways questionable journals attract submissions. Logos and screenshots are not evidence. The safest method is to search the official source directly using the exact title and ISSN.
Maintained by the Beallslists.com editorial review team · Last reviewed: June 19, 2026
What to check
- PubMed and MEDLINE: distinguish between a journal selected for MEDLINE and individual articles appearing in PubMed for other reasons.
- PMC: journal participation in PubMed Central is different from a few articles appearing elsewhere.
- Scopus: search the official source/title record and look for discontinued coverage or title changes.
- Web of Science and Journal Citation Reports: verify the exact journal title, ISSN, collection, and official Journal Impact Factor status.
- DOAJ: check whether the title is currently listed and whether the publisher and ISSN match.
- Crossref: DOI registration is useful, but a DOI alone does not prove peer review or indexing quality.
Common misleading phrases
Be cautious with phrases such as “indexed in PubMed soon,” “Google Scholar impact factor,” “SCI approved,” “Scopus recommended,” or “Web of Science compatible.” These phrases often sound official while avoiding a direct, verifiable claim.
Worked example
A journal displays a Scopus logo and says it is “internationally indexed.” On the official Scopus source search, the exact title does not appear. A similar title appears, but with a different ISSN and publisher. In that case, the journal’s claim should be treated as unverified or misleading until the publisher provides a direct official record.
Selected-article indexing is often misunderstood
A journal may have a few articles visible in a database because of funding requirements, repository deposits, or article-level processing. That does not always mean the journal itself is indexed or selected as a title. Always check the journal-level record, not only one article record.
Impact factor language
The phrase “impact factor” is often misused. If a journal claims an official Journal Impact Factor, check Journal Citation Reports and confirm the exact title and ISSN. If a site presents Google Scholar citations, CiteFactor-style numbers, or other scores as an official impact factor, treat the metric as misleading until verified.
Useful external references
These links are included because they are practical, public starting points for researchers. They should be used alongside local institutional policies and the current evidence for a specific journal or publisher.