SCImago Journal Rank: SJR, Quartiles & How to Use ItSCImago Journal Rank完整指南：SJR指标、期刊排名、Q1分区与查询方法

What Is SCImago Journal Rank?什么是SCImago Journal Rank？

The phrase scimago journal rank refers to two connected things. Strictly, SJR is the indicator. SCImago Journal & Country Rank is the public portal where users search journals, browse subject rankings and review indicators. If your goal is to find a journal, interpret its SJR value and quartile, or compare alternatives, use the indicator and portal together while recording the relevant year and category.

“scimago journal rank”涉及两个相连概念：严格来说，SJR 是指标；SCImago Journal & Country Rank 则是供用户检索期刊、浏览学科排名和查看指标的公开门户。如果需要查找期刊、解释其 SJR 值与分区，或比较备选期刊，应结合指标与门户使用，并记录对应的年份和学科类别。

SJR describes the citation-network position of the average article in a source; it does not certify every article, editor or review decision. It can help with discovery and contextual comparison, especially when several journals serve the same field. It cannot tell you whether your manuscript fits the scope, whether a promised review time is realistic, whether fees suit your budget, or whether a specific article is rigorous. Those questions require separate evidence.

SJR描述来源中平均文章在引文网络中的位置，并不认证每篇论文、每位编辑或每项评审决定。它适合在多个期刊服务同一领域时用于发现与语境化比较，却不能告诉你稿件是否匹配范围、审稿周期承诺是否现实、费用是否适合预算，也不能判断单篇论文是否严谨；这些问题需要独立证据。

SCImago, SJR, and Scopus: Three Different LayersSCImago、SJR与Scopus：三个不同层次

Confusion often begins when the portal, metric and database are treated as interchangeable. They are related but answer different questions. SCImago organizes and publishes rankings. SJR is one indicator within those records. Scopus is the abstract and citation database whose data support the calculation. A journal appearing on a SCImago profile is evidence tied to a particular data release, not a timeless guarantee of its current Scopus status.

混淆常源于把门户、指标和数据库当作同一事物。三者相关却回答不同问题：SCImago组织并发布排名；SJR是档案中的一项指标；Scopus是支持计算的文摘与引文数据库。期刊出现在SCImago档案中，是与特定数据版本相关的证据，并非对当前Scopus状态的永久保证。

This separation matters when a journal changes title, publisher, ISSN, coverage or status. Search by exact title and ISSN, inspect historical coverage, and confirm the current record in Scopus when indexing is a submission requirement. A similar principle applies to Journal Citation Reports: a metric portal and an indexing database are connected evidence layers, not synonyms.

当期刊更名、更换出版社或ISSN、覆盖范围或状态发生变化时，这一区分尤其重要。应按准确刊名和ISSN检索，检查历史覆盖；若收录是投稿硬性条件，还要在Scopus当前记录中确认。Journal Citation Reports也遵循类似原则：指标门户与索引数据库是相连证据层，而非同义词。

How the SJR Indicator WorksSJR指标如何运作

A simple citation average gives each citation the same value. SJR instead models a network in which sources transfer prestige through their references. Elsevier's Scopus documentation explains that the subject field, quality and reputation of the citing source affect citation value. Prestige is distributed across the references a source makes, helping account for disciplines with very different citation densities. The calculation iterates across the network until the scores stabilize, then normalizes prestige relative to publication output.

简单引用平均值把每次引用视为等值；SJR则把来源建模为通过参考文献传递声望的网络。Elsevier的Scopus文档说明，引用来源的学科、质量和声望会影响引用价值。一个来源的声望会分配到它给出的参考文献中，从而帮助处理引用密度差异巨大的学科；计算在网络中迭代至分数稳定，再按出版产出对声望进行标准化。

The formal method is more complex than multiplying citations by a visible journal score. It includes a defined citation window, iterative transfers, normalization rules and controls intended to reduce distortions. For ordinary journal selection, reconstructing the formula is less useful than reporting the exact annual SJR value and comparing like with like. Do not combine values from different years, categories or databases as though they were measured on one scale.

正式方法远比“引用次数乘以可见期刊分数”复杂，包含规定的引文窗口、迭代传递、标准化规则与减少扭曲的控制。对一般选刊而言，重建公式不如记录准确年度SJR值并进行同类比较有用。不要把不同年份、类别或数据库的数值当作同一尺度混合。

How to Search SCImago Journal Rankings如何查询SCImago期刊排名

Use journal search when checking a known title and the ranking table when discovering candidates. Keep an evidence log as you work. SCImago pages and annual data can change, so a shortlist that cannot be traced to a year, category and source profile is difficult to audit later.

核验已知期刊时使用期刊检索，发现候选时使用排名表；操作过程中同步保存证据日志。SCImago页面与年度数据会变化，因此无法追溯到年份、类别和来源档案的清单日后难以审计。

1. Define the comparison question定义比较问题Decide whether you are confirming one journal, finding journals in a subject category, or comparing a fixed shortlist. Record the target field and manuscript type.明确是核验单本期刊、在学科类别中发现期刊，还是比较固定候选；记录目标领域与稿件类型。
2. Search exact identity按准确身份检索Use the full journal title and verify print or electronic ISSN. Do not select a similar title merely because the publisher name looks familiar.使用完整刊名并核对纸质或电子ISSN，不要只因出版社名称熟悉就选择相似刊名。
3. Select year and category选择年份与类别Use one reporting year across the comparison. If a journal has several categories, retain each relevant category rather than copying only its best quartile.整个比较使用同一报告年份；若期刊属于多个类别，应保留所有相关类别，而不是只复制最好分区。
4. Apply discovery filters carefully谨慎应用发现筛选Filter by subject area, category, country, source type or open-access status when useful. A filter narrows the portal result; it does not verify the journal's current policy.需要时按学科领域、类别、国家、来源类型或开放获取筛选。筛选只缩小门户结果，不代表核验当前期刊政策。
5. Open the profile and capture context打开档案并保存语境Record title, ISSN, publisher, SJR, categories, quartiles, trend year, profile URL and access date. Treat copied screenshots without source context as weak evidence.记录刊名、ISSN、出版社、SJR、类别、分区、趋势年份、档案URL与访问日期；缺少来源语境的截图证据较弱。
6. Verify outside SCImago在SCImago之外核验Confirm current Scopus coverage when required, then check the official journal site for scope, article type, fees, peer review and author instructions.有要求时确认当前Scopus覆盖，再到期刊官网核验范围、文章类型、费用、同行评审与作者指南。

For subject discovery, export or transcribe only the fields needed for the decision. A huge ranking list encourages sorting by one number while ignoring fit. Begin with scope and category relevance, use SJR and quartile as comparison signals, and then investigate the smaller set deeply.

做学科发现时，只导出或抄录决策所需字段。巨大的排名表容易诱导用户只按一个数字排序而忽略适配；应先看范围与类别相关性，再把SJR与分区作为比较信号，最后深入核验缩小后的候选集合。

How to Read a SCImago Journal Profile如何阅读SCImago期刊档案

A profile is a bundle of evidence, not a single badge. Start with identity, then move from category-relative indicators to time trends and publication patterns. Labels and available fields may change, but the reasoning sequence remains useful.

期刊档案是一组证据，不是一枚徽章。应先核验身份，再从学科相对指标转向时间趋势与出版模式。页面标签和可用字段可能变化，但这一推理顺序长期适用。

Read trends instead of treating one year's movement as a verdict. A quartile change can result from the journal's score, changes among competitors, category membership, database coverage or rank-boundary effects. Investigate a sustained pattern across several years and note whether the journal was newly indexed, renamed, transferred or reclassified.

应阅读趋势，而不是把单年变动当作判决。分区变化可能来自期刊自身分数、竞争者变化、类别归属、数据库覆盖或分区边界效应。应检查多年的持续模式，并注意期刊是否新近收录、更名、转移出版社或重新分类。

SJR Rankings, Categories, and Q1–Q4 QuartilesSJR排名、学科类别与Q1–Q4分区

SCImago ranks journals within a subject category according to SJR and divides the ordered set into four groups. Q1 contains the quarter with the highest values, followed by Q2, Q3 and Q4. This makes quartile a category-relative label. It is not a fixed SJR threshold: the numerical value needed for Q1 can differ sharply across categories and years.

SCImago按SJR在学科类别内给期刊排序，并把有序集合分为四组。Q1包含数值最高的四分之一，其后依次为Q2、Q3与Q4。因此分区是类别相对标签，并不存在固定的SJR阈值；进入Q1所需数值可能随类别和年份显著不同。

A multidisciplinary journal can receive different quartiles in different categories during the same year. Report the category relevant to the manuscript and retain the full category list in your notes. Writing only “Q1 journal” can conceal that the journal is Q1 in one category and Q2 or Q3 in another. Likewise, a Q1 label from an old year should not be presented as current.

跨学科期刊在同一年不同类别中可能获得不同分区。报告时应选择与稿件相关的类别，并在记录中保留完整类别清单。仅写“Q1期刊”可能掩盖它在一个类别为Q1、在另一类别为Q2或Q3；旧年份的Q1标签也不应表述为当前状态。

SJR vs Journal Impact Factor vs CiteScoreSJR、Journal Impact Factor与CiteScore有什么不同？

These indicators overlap in journal comparison but differ in data source, calculation and intended interpretation. Do not convert one into another, copy a quartile across systems or assume that similar-looking numbers are comparable.

这些指标都可用于期刊比较，但数据来源、计算方式和解释目的不同。不要相互换算，不要跨体系复制分区，也不要假设外观相似的数值可以直接比较。

If an institution or funder specifies a database and year, report exactly that indicator rather than substituting SJR. For exploratory journal selection, several signals can reveal different dimensions. Use SJR for prestige-weighted position, CiteScore or JIF for their defined citation averages, and qualitative evidence for scope, editorial practice and audience. Our Journal Impact Factor guide explains the JIF formula and its decision boundaries in more detail.

如果机构或资助方指定数据库与年份，应准确报告该指标，不要用SJR替代。探索性选刊时，多项信号可以呈现不同维度：用SJR观察声望加权位置，用CiteScore或JIF观察各自定义的引用平均值，用定性证据评估范围、编辑实践与受众。我们的Journal Impact Factor指南进一步解释JIF公式与决策边界。

A Reproducible SJR Verification Workflow可复现的SJR核验流程

A good comparison can be reviewed by a supervisor, coauthor or future you. Build a compact evidence table rather than pasting ranks into an email. Each row should represent one verified journal identity; each metric should carry a source and year.

良好比较应能被导师、合作者或未来的自己复核。不要只把排名粘贴到邮件中，而要建立紧凑证据表。每一行代表一个核验后的期刊身份，每项指标都带来源与年份。

1. Create the identity key建立身份键Record the official journal title, ISSN/eISSN, publisher and official URL. Resolve title changes before comparing metrics.记录官方刊名、ISSN/eISSN、出版社与官方网址；在比较指标前解决更名问题。
2. Freeze the reporting context固定报告语境Choose one SJR year and the manuscript-relevant category. Preserve all categories in a notes column.选择一个SJR年份与稿件相关类别，在备注列保留全部类别。
3. Capture quantitative evidence保存定量证据Enter SJR, category rank, quartile, trend direction and any comparison metric only from its named source.从明确命名的来源录入SJR、类别排名、分区、趋势方向及其他比较指标。
4. Capture decision evidence保存决策证据Add scope fit, article type, audience, review model, open-access route, APC or other fees, data policy and realistic timeline evidence.加入范围适配、文章类型、受众、评审模式、开放获取路径、APC或其他费用、数据政策与现实周期证据。
5. Label uncertainty标注不确定性Use “not found,” “not stated,” or “requires confirmation” instead of guessing. Distinguish portal data from journal claims.用“未找到”“未说明”或“需确认”替代猜测，并区分门户数据与期刊自述。
6. Date and review the shortlist标注日期并复核清单Save access dates and revisit final candidates immediately before submission because fees, policies and coverage can change.保存访问日期，并在投稿前重新检查最终候选，因为费用、政策与覆盖可能变化。

How to Use SJR for Journal Selection如何把SJR用于投稿期刊选择

SJR should enter the workflow after topic fit creates a plausible comparison set. Ranking every journal globally and then forcing the manuscript into the highest result reverses the decision. A high-ranked journal outside the manuscript's question, method or audience is not a strong target.

应先通过主题适配建立合理比较集合，再让SJR进入流程。先对全球期刊排序、再把稿件硬塞进最高结果，会颠倒决策。排名很高但不匹配研究问题、方法或受众的期刊并非良好目标。

Start with non-negotiables: correct article type, relevant scope, legitimate identity, required indexing, policy compliance and affordable conditions. Then compare SJR and other signals among the survivors. Where candidates are similar, consider audience, recent article fit, editorial transparency and practical constraints before choosing. A lower-SJR specialist journal may reach the right readers more effectively than a higher-SJR general journal.

先应用不可妥协条件：正确文章类型、相关范围、合法身份、必需收录、政策合规与可承受条件；再在剩余候选间比较SJR与其他信号。候选接近时，应综合受众、近期文章适配、编辑透明度与实践约束。较低SJR的专业期刊可能比更高SJR的综合期刊更有效触达正确读者。

Common SJR Mistakes and Important Limitations常见SJR误区与重要局限

• Comparing unlike categories: absolute SJR values and quartile thresholds vary with fields and years. Keep the comparison set explicit.比较不同类别：SJR绝对值与分区阈值随学科和年份变化，必须明确比较集合。
• Reporting the best quartile only: a journal can sit in multiple categories. Disclose the category relevant to the work and preserve the others.只报告最好分区：一本期刊可能属于多个类别，应披露与研究相关的类别并保留其他类别。
• Mixing years: annual values and ranks are not interchangeable. Use one edition across a shortlist and attach the year to every claim.混用年份：年度数值与排名不可互换，候选清单应统一版本，并给每项主张标注年份。
• Treating presence as current indexing: SCImago uses Scopus data, but historical profiles do not replace a current Scopus coverage check.把出现等同当前收录：SCImago使用Scopus数据，但历史档案不能替代当前Scopus覆盖核验。
• Using journal metrics for people or papers: DORA advises against using journal-based metrics as substitutes for the quality of individual research outputs or researchers.用期刊指标评价个人或论文：DORA反对把期刊层面指标当作单项成果或研究人员质量替代指标。
• Assuming rank proves trust: citation position cannot verify peer-review integrity, ownership, hidden charges or misconduct handling. Use a journal trust checklist.认为排名证明可信：引用位置无法核验评审诚信、所有权、隐藏费用或不端处理，应使用期刊可信度清单。

Metrics are affected by database coverage, language, document type, field size, citation culture and time. Review journals may attract different citation patterns from original-research journals; older sources have more time to build an H index; interdisciplinary journals may not fit one category cleanly. The responsible response is not to abandon metrics but to specify what each indicator observes, what it omits and which qualitative checks complement it.

指标会受数据库覆盖、语言、文献类型、领域规模、引用文化与时间影响。综述期刊的引用模式可能不同于原创研究期刊；老刊有更多时间累积H指数；跨学科期刊也未必能整齐落入单一类别。负责任做法不是放弃指标，而是说明每项指标观察什么、遗漏什么，以及哪些定性核验可补充它。

For research assessment, DORA recommends clarity, transparency, specificity, context and fairness. Apply the same discipline to journal selection. State the source and date, compare relevant peers, use more than one signal, and never let a journal-level proxy replace reading the research or examining the actual publication process.

DORA建议科研评价遵循清晰、透明、具体、语境化与公平原则；期刊选择也应如此。说明来源与日期，比较相关同类，使用多个信号，不让期刊层面代理指标取代阅读研究内容或检查实际出版流程。

SCImago Journal Rank FAQSCImago Journal Rank常见问题