Understanding Scopus Metrics: CiteScore Q1 and SJR Q3 of BEEI

The Bulletin of Electrical Engineering and Informatics (BEEI) (ISSN 2089-3191; e-ISSN 2302-9285) is indexed in Scopus, a major abstract and citation database for peer-reviewed scholarly literature. Journal performance can be evaluated through several complementary bibliometric indicators, each designed to measure a different aspect of citation impact and scholarly influence.

Because these indicators employ different methodologies, citation windows, and ranking frameworks, a journal may receive different quartile classifications under different evaluation systems. Such differences are not necessarily contradictory; rather, they reflect the distinct dimensions of journal performance captured by each metric.

BEEI is currently reported as:
- Q1 based on Scopus CiteScore; and
- Q3 based on SCImago Journal Rank (SJR).

Both classifications are valid within their respective ranking frameworks. They should be interpreted separately, with reference to the applicable reporting year and subject category, rather than treated as interchangeable or universal measures of journal standing.

1. CiteScore (Scopus)
CiteScore is a citation-impact metric developed and maintained by Elsevier using data from Scopus. It measures the average number of citations received by eligible scholarly documents published by a journal over a defined four-year period. The metric supports comparisons among journals within relevant Scopus subject categories.

CiteScore is widely used in scholarly publishing because it offers a standardized and transparent approach to assessing citation performance. Its principal characteristics include:
- Scopus-based calculation: CiteScore is calculated using citation and publication data indexed in Scopus.
- A defined four-year assessment window: The calculation relates citations and eligible published documents within the specified period.
- Transparent methodology: The underlying calculation and associated ranking information are publicly documented by Elsevier.
- Subject-category benchmarking: CiteScore rankings and percentiles enable journals to be compared with other sources in relevant subject categories.
- Regular metric updates: Scopus provides updated metric information, while the annual CiteScore edition and its associated rankings should be identified by their reporting year.

A journal's CiteScore and its CiteScore percentile provide related but distinct information. CiteScore represents average citation impact, whereas the percentile indicates the journal's relative position among ranked sources in a subject category. Quartile classifications are derived from this relative position.

Based on the CiteScore classification reported for BEEI, the journal is ranked Q1 in the applicable category or categories. This classification indicates a position within the top quartile of the relevant CiteScore ranking group. It provides evidence of BEEI's relative citation performance within that framework, although it should not be interpreted as a complete measure of editorial quality or the scientific merit of every article published in the journal.

2. SCImago Journal Rank (SJR)
The SCImago Journal Rank (SJR) is a journal-level indicator developed by the SCImago Research Group using citation data from Scopus. It evaluates citation influence by considering not only the number of citations a journal receives but also the prestige of the sources from which those citations originate.

Unlike a metric based primarily on average citation frequency, SJR applies a prestige-weighted approach to the scholarly citation network. Citations from sources with greater influence can contribute differently from citations originating in less influential sources. The resulting indicator provides a complementary perspective on a journal's position within its research community.

SJR has several important characteristics:
- Prestige-weighted citation influence: It considers the relative influence of citing sources rather than treating every citation as equivalent.
- Citation-network perspective: It evaluates journal influence within a network of scholarly publications and their citation relationships.
- Subject-category rankings: Journals are ranked within relevant subject categories, and their quartiles reflect their relative positions in those categories.
- A complementary evaluation framework: Its methodology differs from CiteScore, so the two indicators may produce different rankings for the same journal.

According to the SJR classification reported for BEEI, the journal is ranked Q3 in the applicable SCImago subject category or categories. This classification represents BEEI's relative position within that particular SJR ranking framework. It does not negate the journal's Q1 CiteScore classification, nor does it indicate that the journal is not indexed in Scopus.

The difference between BEEI's reported CiteScore and SJR quartiles arises from the fact that the two indicators measure citation performance from different perspectives. CiteScore emphasizes average citation impact over a defined period, while SJR places additional emphasis on the prestige-weighted influence of the journal's citation network.

3. Why Can BEEI Be Q1 in CiteScore and Q3 in SJR?
The difference between BEEI's reported Q1 CiteScore classification and Q3 SJR classification can be understood by examining the questions each indicator is designed to answer.

CiteScore focuses on average citation impact: How many citations, on average, do eligible documents published by a journal receive within the defined four-year assessment period?

SJR focuses on prestige-weighted citation influence: How influential are the sources that cite a journal, taking into account the prestige of those sources within the scholarly citation network?

Because these metrics use different calculations and ranking frameworks, their quartile classifications do not necessarily coincide. A journal may achieve a relatively high CiteScore position while occupying a different position under SJR.

Quartile classifications are also relative rather than absolute. They depend on the journals included in the relevant subject category, the applicable ranking methodology, and the reporting year. A journal may consequently have different quartiles across metrics or subject categories without any inconsistency in the underlying calculations.

For BEEI, the appropriate interpretation is therefore straightforward: Q1 CiteScore and Q3 SJR describe different aspects of the journal's citation performance. Neither classification should be used in isolation to make a definitive judgment about the journal's overall quality, editorial standards, or the scientific value of its individual publications.

4. A Comprehensive Perspective: CiteScore, SJR, and SNIP
No single bibliometric indicator can fully represent a journal's quality, scholarly influence, or contribution to its discipline. A more balanced assessment considers multiple metrics alongside qualitative evidence about editorial policies, peer review, publication ethics, research integrity, and the relevance of published work.

Three commonly used Scopus-related indicators provide complementary perspectives:
- CiteScore — Average citation impact
CiteScore measures the average citation impact of eligible documents published during a defined four-year period. It is useful for assessing a journal's relative citation performance within relevant Scopus subject categories.
- SJR — Prestige-weighted citation influence
SJR considers the prestige of the sources from which citations originate. It provides a perspective on a journal's influence within the scholarly citation network.
- SNIP — Source Normalized Impact per Paper
Source Normalized Impact per Paper (SNIP) adjusts citation impact to account for differences in citation practices across research fields. Because citation frequency varies considerably among disciplines, normalization can help support more meaningful comparisons between fields with different citation patterns.

Although CiteScore, SJR, and SNIP draw on Scopus citation data or data derived from it, they should not be treated as interchangeable indicators. Each has its own methodology and interpretation. Their results are most informative when considered in the context of their definitions, reporting periods, and subject categories.

For BEEI, presenting these indicators transparently enables authors, reviewers, institutions, librarians, and research evaluators to obtain a more balanced view of the journal's bibliometric performance rather than relying on a single metric or quartile.

5. How Should BEEI's Quartiles Be Reported?
To promote accurate and transparent communication, readers and institutions are encouraged to identify the metric whenever referring to BEEI's quartile classification.

For example, the expressions “Q1 based on Scopus CiteScore” and “Q3 based on SCImago Journal Rank (SJR)” are more precise than simply describing the journal as “Q1” or “Q3” without further qualification.

Where possible, formal reports and institutional assessments should also specify:
- The metric: CiteScore, SJR, or SNIP, as applicable.
- The reporting year: The year of the metric edition or ranking being cited.
- The subject category: The relevant category in which the journal is ranked.
- The percentile or ranking position: Where available, these details provide additional context for interpreting the quartile.

These details are particularly important when journal metrics are used for research evaluation, academic promotion, institutional benchmarking, funding decisions, or publication planning. Reporting the metric and its context reduces ambiguity and enables readers to verify the classification against the relevant official source.

Journal metrics and quartiles may change over time as new publications are indexed, citations accumulate, and the relative performance of journals evolves. Accordingly, the latest available data should be consulted before making claims about a journal's current ranking.

6. Responsible Interpretation of Journal Metrics
BEEI recognizes the importance of responsible and transparent use of bibliometric indicators in scholarly communication. Journal metrics can help describe citation performance and relative standing, but they should not be regarded as substitutes for a careful evaluation of research quality.

A journal's overall scholarly contribution also depends on factors that cannot be fully captured by citation indicators, including:
- The rigor, originality, and reproducibility of published research.
- The integrity and transparency of peer-review and editorial processes.
- Compliance with publication ethics and research-integrity standards.
- The relevance of published findings to the scientific community and professional practice.
- The contribution of individual articles to knowledge, methods, and technological development.

Likewise, a journal-level quartile should not be interpreted as a guarantee of the quality or impact of every article it publishes. Individual research contributions should be evaluated according to their own evidence, methods, originality, and significance.

BEEI encourages authors, reviewers, readers, and institutions to interpret bibliometric indicators carefully and to consult official sources when referring to journal rankings.

Conclusion
The Bulletin of Electrical Engineering and Informatics (BEEI) is indexed in Scopus and is reported as Q1 based on Scopus CiteScore and Q3 based on SCImago Journal Rank (SJR). These classifications are based on different evaluation methodologies and provide complementary perspectives on journal performance.
The difference between the two quartiles should therefore be understood in the context of their respective metrics, reporting years, and subject categories—not as an inherent contradiction. CiteScore emphasizes average citation impact, SJR emphasizes prestige-weighted citation influence, and SNIP adjusts citation impact for differences in citation practices across research fields.
By communicating its journal metrics transparently and encouraging their responsible interpretation, BEEI seeks to provide authors, reviewers, readers, and research institutions with clear information for evaluating the journal's bibliometric profile.