How do I access and use Scopus?
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What is Scopus?
Scopus is a comprehensive abstract and citation database that provides a platform for researchers, academics, and professionals to access a vast collection of scholarly literature across various disciplines. Developed by Elsevier, Scopus offers a wide range of integrations with SciVal (for data analysis) and Pure (The University's current research information system).
What does Scopus cover and what are its strengths?
Scopus offers users an extensive repository of peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings, patents, and other research-related content. Its content covers over 330 disciplines across science, technology, medicine, social sciences, arts, and humanities. All references are included for articles from 1970 onwards, with 18.8 million records covered between 1970-1995 and over 97 million records available in total from over 28,000 active journal titles across more than 7000 publishers worldwide.
One of Scopus' main strengths is its rich and detailed author profiles feature which allow you to view high level author metrics, including which United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) their work has contributed to, and their affiliation and publication history. Scopus also provides an advanced search function which allows you to create Boolean searches. These can be used to map out new research areas or groups of researchers, and the results can be saved as a publication set which can be exported into CSV, or imported to SciVal for further data filtering or analysis.
How do I access Scopus?
You can access Scopus via Library Search.
In order to use the platform most effectively, including gaining the ability to save searches, we recommended that you register for an account with Elsevier before using the platform.
Scopus can be accessed programmatically via an API. You can request a key via the Elsevier Developer Portal, but you will only be able to access the API while on the University's internet network unless you are granted an institutional token by the Elsevier Dev Support Team. For more information on API access, see the Developer Portal.
How do I use Scopus?
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Searching Scopus: You can search Scopus for documents, authors or institutions. This guide will demonstrate the basic steps around constructing an effective search.
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Scopus metrics:This guide details the different types of metrics available via Scopus with guidance on accessing individual author, publication and journal metrics.
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Scopus tutorials: These provide visual and audio guidance on features such as:
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Basic and Advanced searching strategies
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More information
You can contact the Library's Office for Open Research team for more information and support in using Scopus or other Open Research systems.