What is the notability guideline for academic journals on Wikipedia?
The notability guideline for academic journals on Wikipedia is based on the consensus that a notable journal is known for publishing scholarly research in the spirit of Wikipedia’s General Notability Guidelines. A journal is considered notable if it has significant coverage in the media or has a significant impact in its field, as demonstrated by independent reliable sources. The notability criteria for academic journals are independent of other subject-specific notability guidelines.
What types of sources are considered valid for establishing notability for academic journals?
Valid sources for establishing notability for academic journals include selective citation indices, indexing services, and bibliographic databases, such as Science Citation Index, Social Sciences Citation Index, and Scopus. Inclusion in comprehensive (non-selective) indices like Google Scholar and the Directory of Open Access Journals is not sufficient to establish notability. Independent scholarly publications, news media, books, theses, and other sources can also be used to demonstrate notability.
Can academic journals that don’t meet the general notability guideline still be included in Wikipedia?
Yes, academic journals that do not meet the general notability guideline can still be included in Wikipedia if they meet the conditions of WP:Notability or other notability criteria. However, they may be covered within another article, such as the publisher’s article, or as part of a list article that contains information about non-notable journals, subject to Wikipedia’s content policies.
Are there specific notability guidelines for different categories of academic journals?
While there are no specific notability guidelines for different categories of academic journals, the criteria for establishing notability may vary depending on the field, geography, language, and other factors. For instance, in humanities, citation indices and Google Scholar may provide inadequate information, and library holdings can be considered when evaluating notability. The threshold for what constitutes “frequently cited” or “influential” may also vary by field.
What are the specific notability criteria for subtopics of academic journals on Wikipedia?
There are three main criteria for establishing notability for academic journals on Wikipedia. These criteria can be applied to subtopics of academic journals, taking into account the unique characteristics of each subtopic and field.
1. The journal is considered influential in its subject area by reliable sources
2. The journal is frequently cited by other reliable sources
3. The journal is historically important in its subject area.
What are some common challenges in establishing notability for academic journal subtopics?
Common challenges in establishing notability for academic journal subtopics include finding reliable and independent sources that provide significant coverage, determining the appropriate threshold for “frequently cited” or “influential” within a specific field, and dealing with journals that promote pseudo-science or fringe theories. Additionally, the comprehensiveness of citation indices and other sources may vary by field, making it difficult to accurately assess notability for certain subtopics.
How can I demonstrate that an academic journal is influential in its subject area?
To demonstrate that an academic journal is influential in its subject area, you can provide evidence of its inclusion in selective citation indices, indexing services, and bibliographic databases. Additionally, you can present significant commentary from independent scholarly publications, news media, books, theses, or other sources that discuss the journal’s impact and influence in its field.
What is the role of impact factors and other metrics in establishing notability for academic journals?
Impact factors, assigned by Journal Citation Reports, and other metrics like CiteScore or SJR indicator can serve as evidence that a journal has been indexed by selective citation indices or databases, such as Scopus. While these metrics can help demonstrate a journal’s influence and notability, they are not the sole determining factors. The overall notability of a journal should be assessed based on its impact, coverage in reliable sources, and historical importance in its subject area.
How should I handle academic journals that are part of a series or have supplement series?
For academic journals that are part of a series or have supplement series, it may be preferable to cover them together in a single article if there is not much to say about individual sections. However, if a section or supplement series becomes prominent in its own right, it can be covered in a separate article. The decision to cover a journal series or supplement series in a single article or separate articles depends on the available information and editorial judgment.
What should I do if I believe an academic journal does not meet Wikipedia’s notability criteria?
If you believe an academic journal does not meet Wikipedia’s notability criteria, you can consider proposing the article for deletion using either the Proposed Deletion (PROD) process or the Articles for Deletion (AfD) process. Before doing so, ensure that you have thoroughly researched the topic and attempted to find sources that might demonstrate notability. When nominating an article for deletion, place the relevant WikiProject templates at the top of its talk page to notify the appropriate WikiProjects of the deletion discussion.
Can a non-notable academic journal be mentioned in another Wikipedia article?
Yes, a non-notable academic journal can be mentioned in another Wikipedia article, such as the publisher’s article or a list article containing information about non-notable journals. While the journal may not warrant its own standalone article, it can still be relevant and informative to include some information about it in a related article, as long as the content adheres to Wikipedia’s content policies, such as verifiability and no original research.
