Comparing Bibliometric Analysis Using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science Databases
October 24th, 2019
Literature databases are commonly used to assess publications in a certain subject, discipline, country, or region of the world, a practice known as bibliometric analysis. The current protocol details how to use PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases to do bibliometric analysis.
This method can help answer key questions in the bibliometric analysis field about the available search databases and how to choose the most appropriate one. The main advantage of this protocol is that it provides a step-by-step approach to using different databases so that any researcher can perform a bibliometric analysis successfully. To analyze Jordanian research output during a five-year period between January 1st, 2013, and December 31st, 2017, using PubMed, open the Advanced Search form and enter Jordan as the search term, specifying Affiliation as the search field.
To exclude all documents authored by a researcher named Jordan from an affiliated country that is not Jordan, type Jordan in another field and select the field type Author. Select the NOT operator as the connector between the two fields, and click Search. Specify the publication dates from between January 1st, 2013, to December 31st, 2017, in the results window, and select Journal Article and Review from article types.
To analyze the Jordanian research output during a five-year period between January 1st, 2013, and December 31st, 2017, using Scopus, open the Scopus website and enter the appropriate Elsevier login information. Next, enter Jordan as the search term, and specify Affiliation country as the search field. Limit the search duration from 2013 to 2017.
Note that from 2013 means from January 1st, 2013, and to 2017 means to December 31st, 2017. Then, limit the document type to Article or Review, and click Search. To analyze the Jordanian research output during a five-year period between January 1st, 2013, and December 31st, 2017, using Web of Science, open the Web of Science website and log in with the appropriate Web of Science account information.
Enter Jordan in the search field, and specify Address. Identify the duration of the search as between 2013 and 2017, and click Search. Restrict the search using the Article and Review filters, and select to analyze the results saved in the search history now or later.
Then, indicate whether the results should be displayed in a table, a visual tree map, or bars. Here, the yearly trends in Jordanian publication during the five-year 2013 to 2017 interval according to the Scopus search and the Web of Science search are shown. According to the country of collaboration in the Scopus search, the United States of America is the most common country with which Jordanian researchers collaborate, followed by Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom.
According to the Web of Science search, the United States is the most common country with which Jordanians collaborate, followed by France and Austria. Of the 10 most common disciplines within which Jordanians have published, medicine is the most common, followed by engineering and the social sciences according to the Scopus search. According to the Web of Science search, of the 10 most common disciplines within which Jordanians have published, engineering, mathematics, and computer sciences are the top three.
While attempting this protocol, it's important to remember to select the appropriate database before starting your analysis. For example, PubMed is devoted to biomedical sciences only. Following this protocol and after downloading the results in CSV format, additional analysis methods like a bibliometric mapping can be performed for spatial representation of the results.
After its development, this protocol paved the way for researchers in all fields to explore the research trends in their disciplines easily and efficiently.
View the full transcript and gain access to thousands of scientific videos
Overview
This protocol outlines the process of conducting bibliometric analysis using major literature databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. It provides a structured approach for researchers to assess publications in specific fields or regions.
Key Study Components
Area of Science
- Bibliometric analysis
- Research assessment
- Database utilization
Background
- Bibliometric analysis is essential for evaluating research output.
- Literature databases serve as key tools for this analysis.
- Understanding how to effectively use these databases is crucial for researchers.
- This protocol focuses on practical steps for conducting bibliometric studies.
Purpose of Study
- To guide researchers in performing bibliometric analysis.
- To compare different literature databases for research assessment.
- To provide a clear methodology for analyzing research output.
Methods Used
- Utilizing PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science for data retrieval.
- Step-by-step instructions for setting search parameters.
- Example of analyzing research output from Jordan.
- Exclusion criteria for refining search results.
Main Results
- Successful identification of relevant publications.
- Demonstration of effective search strategies.
- Insights into the research landscape of Jordan during the specified period.
- Guidance on using advanced search features in databases.
Conclusions
- The protocol enables researchers to conduct bibliometric analyses effectively.
- It highlights the importance of choosing the right database.
- Researchers can replicate the methodology for various regions or subjects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Executive Industry Relevance
Bibliometric analysis enables biopharma R&D teams to assess research output, identify emerging trends, and evaluate competitive landscapes across therapeutic areas. By comparing database coverage and search capabilities, organizations can optimize literature surveillance for target validation and mechanistic de-risking. This protocol supports data-driven decision-making in early discovery and portfolio prioritization.
Strategic Applications in Biopharma R&D
Early Discovery & Target Validation
- Scientific Value: Interrogate therapeutic hypotheses by mapping publication trends in disease mechanisms and pathway involvement.
- Operational Value: Identify high-impact journals and key opinion leaders to inform target selection and validation strategies.
- Predictive Value: Assess research activity levels to gauge target maturity and de-risk biological assumptions.
Screening & Assay Development
- Scientific Value: Leverage database-specific tools like MeSH in PubMed for precise keyword optimization in assay-related literature searches.
- Operational Value: Use Scopus and Web of Science analytics to generate reproducible search workflows for compound screening support.
- Reproducibility: Apply standardized search protocols across teams to ensure consistent literature inputs for assay development.
Translational & Preclinical Research
- Translational Continuity: Track yearly publication trends to align discovery findings with evolving clinical and translational research focus areas.
- Biomarker Alignment: Identify collaboration networks and disciplinary spread to assess biomarker relevance across disease models.
- Risk-Adjusted Advancement: Use open access and publication volume trends to inform preclinical investment decisions.
Pipeline & Workflow Integration
This method integrates into the discovery continuum by informing early biology through literature landscape analysis, supporting screening readiness via standardized search protocols, and enabling translational continuity through trend monitoring.
- Discovery Biology: Supports hypothesis testing by revealing publication density and evolution in specific biological pathways.
- Screening: Enhances assay readiness by providing reproducible, database-specific search strategies for compound-related literature.
- Analytics: Delivers quantitative outputs such as publication counts, collaboration networks, and open access metrics for comparative analysis.
- Translational Research: Connects discovery to preclinical work by tracking shifts in research focus and interdisciplinary engagement over time.
- Enterprise Reuse: Establishes a reusable literature surveillance capability applicable across projects, targets, and therapeutic areas.
Operational & Enterprise Impact
- Scientific Value: Increases predictive confidence in target selection by reducing uncertainty through comprehensive literature mapping.
- Operational Value: Ensures standardization and scalability of literature searches across global R&D sites using database-specific protocols.
- Strategic Value: Improves go/no-go decisions by providing quantitative insights into research trends and competitive activity.
- Portfolio Impact: Enables risk-adjusted prioritization by identifying emerging science and declining interest areas.
Implementation Considerations
- Requires expertise in database navigation and search syntax for PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science.
- Depends on institutional access to subscription-based platforms and familiarity with advanced search features.
- Necessitates cross-team agreement on search terms, filters, and exclusion criteria for reproducible results.
- Involves adaptation of search fields (e.g., Affiliation vs. Address) based on database-specific metadata structures.
- Limited by database coverage biases, requiring complementary use of multiple platforms for comprehensive analysis.
