Scientific publishing in China
Encyclopedia
Today in the People's Republic of China, there are more than 8,000 academic journal
s, of which more than 4,600 can be considered scientific. About 1,400 cover health science (medicine
and public health
). Scientific publications reflect the scientific output of China and scientific journals are one of the most effective and important ways to communicate the results of its research. The quality of scientific journal
s are an important indicator of the scientific productivity of the country. There has also been increasing international collaboration and exchange.
Most scientific journals in China are published monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly.
A few are published twice a month. The average time to publication is 14.1 months. Most journals are available only in print form or only in electronic form. Most scientific journals in China are published in Chinese; a few have English translations of abstracts for research articles. Some 189 scientific journals are published in English, of which 29 are health-science journals.
Most articles published in English-language scientific journals in China are indexed by Science Citation Index
and Engineering Index.
Most scientific journals in China are not published in English, which has meant that much of current scientific development in China is not readily available to non–Chinese-speaking scientists.
In 1999, only 661 Chinese journals were indexed in the international index systems:
Science Citation Index: 13
Engineering Index: 96
Index of Science and Technology Programs: 110
Science Abstracts: 117
Center for Biophotonics: Science and Technology: 132
Abstract Journal: 193
As of June 2001, 62 Chinese journals (44 in English) were indexed in the Science Citation Index Expanded.
The impact factor
of Chinese scientific journals is relatively low. In 1999, the top-cited journal—Mining and Geologica Sinica—had an impact factor of 1.487, and the average number of citations per article published in the Chinese journals covered by Science Citation Index
was 0.326. One reason for the low impact factor is that Chinese scientists tend to use relatively few references in their publications (average, 6.6 references per article). A second reason is that scientists in China, like those in other countries, prefer to publish their best papers in major or top English-language journals. In fact, for such purposes as promotion to senior positions, Chinese scientists must have published in Western journals. According to the Institute of Science and Technology of China, the number of articles written by Chinese scientists and published in non-Chinese journals increased from 13,134 in 1995 to 24,476 in 1999—a 95% increase.
is slow. Most first-time authors writing in Chinese for publication in China usually follow the format used in the journal to which they are submitting their manuscripts.
To improve scientific publishing in China, the government has instituted initiatives to improve scientific writing. A format for scientific and technical reports, degree theses, and scientific papers has been developed (GB7713-87). The recommendations closely follow international standards, including using the structured abstract for biomedical research
articles. By supporting standards set by the government and international bodies, it is hoped that health science journals improve their scientific communication.
A few books about biomedical writing have now been published in China. Also, a program, based in China, to teach biomedical writing and editing has been established with grants from the China Medical Board of New York. The purpose of this program, which began in 1996, is to increase publication of Chinese and other Asian research in English-language biomedical journals both by providing instruction in biomedical writing and by developing editors at the researchers' institutions.
Typically the writing courses have focused on the introduction and discussion sections of articles prepared for health-science journals in China. The introduction section of the paper has tended to be incomplete, so editors and readers do not understand the point of the paper. Editors envisage the introduction as being rather like a funnel, beginning with what is known about the particular problem, leading to what is unknown and important to find out, and ending with the objectives of the research. Chinese authors typically begin the discussion with a reiteration of well-known knowledge, with little attempt to indicate how their research adds to the body of knowledge. The discussion section rarely discusses the limitations of the research.
Typical Chinese manuscripts contain few references. Although that may be a long-standing tradition in Chinese publishing, it also may occur because many university and local libraries in China lack extensive collections of world literature, most articles posted on the World Wide Web are not in free-access scientific journals, and, there is generally low awareness of international websites that provide free access to journals, such as Health InterNetwork Access to Research Initiative (HINARI; http://www.healthinternetwork.org/scipub.php) and the Directory of Open Access Journals
(http://www.doaj.org).
Access to journal articles is a continuing problem in China. The government intends to expand free or inexpensive Web access to journals for all scientific researchers and that researchers can be more informed of open access sites, especially those associated with the Budapest Open Access Initiative
(http://www.soros.org/openaccess).
Academic journal
An academic journal is a peer-reviewed periodical in which scholarship relating to a particular academic discipline is published. Academic journals serve as forums for the introduction and presentation for scrutiny of new research, and the critique of existing research...
s, of which more than 4,600 can be considered scientific. About 1,400 cover health science (medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
and public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
). Scientific publications reflect the scientific output of China and scientific journals are one of the most effective and important ways to communicate the results of its research. The quality of scientific journal
Scientific journal
In academic publishing, a scientific journal is a periodical publication intended to further the progress of science, usually by reporting new research. There are thousands of scientific journals in publication, and many more have been published at various points in the past...
s are an important indicator of the scientific productivity of the country. There has also been increasing international collaboration and exchange.
Journals
Most scientific journals in China are supported by federal, regional, or local governments. Some scientific journals are owned by professional associations. There are very few privately owned scientific journals. Some journals — mainly those supported by the national government — are regarded as high-prestige journals, and authors preferentially select these journals for their best papers. Lists of those top journals can be found at http://www.periodicals.net.cn, http://www.tydata.com, and http://www.cnki.net/. Such top-tier journals include the 67 journals published by the Chinese Medical Association. Those journals and most other academic journals are indexed by major indexing services in China.Most scientific journals in China are published monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly.
A few are published twice a month. The average time to publication is 14.1 months. Most journals are available only in print form or only in electronic form. Most scientific journals in China are published in Chinese; a few have English translations of abstracts for research articles. Some 189 scientific journals are published in English, of which 29 are health-science journals.
Most articles published in English-language scientific journals in China are indexed by Science Citation Index
Science Citation Index
The Science Citation Index is a citation index originally produced by the Institute for Scientific Information and created by Eugene Garfield in 1960, which is now owned by Thomson Reuters. The larger version covers more than 6,500 notable and significant journals, across 150 disciplines, from ...
and Engineering Index.
Most scientific journals in China are not published in English, which has meant that much of current scientific development in China is not readily available to non–Chinese-speaking scientists.
In 1999, only 661 Chinese journals were indexed in the international index systems:
Science Citation Index: 13
Engineering Index: 96
Index of Science and Technology Programs: 110
Science Abstracts: 117
Center for Biophotonics: Science and Technology: 132
Abstract Journal: 193
As of June 2001, 62 Chinese journals (44 in English) were indexed in the Science Citation Index Expanded.
The impact factor
Impact factor
The impact factor, often abbreviated IF, is a measure reflecting the average number of citations to articles published in science and social science journals. It is frequently used as a proxy for the relative importance of a journal within its field, with journals with higher impact factors deemed...
of Chinese scientific journals is relatively low. In 1999, the top-cited journal—Mining and Geologica Sinica—had an impact factor of 1.487, and the average number of citations per article published in the Chinese journals covered by Science Citation Index
Science Citation Index
The Science Citation Index is a citation index originally produced by the Institute for Scientific Information and created by Eugene Garfield in 1960, which is now owned by Thomson Reuters. The larger version covers more than 6,500 notable and significant journals, across 150 disciplines, from ...
was 0.326. One reason for the low impact factor is that Chinese scientists tend to use relatively few references in their publications (average, 6.6 references per article). A second reason is that scientists in China, like those in other countries, prefer to publish their best papers in major or top English-language journals. In fact, for such purposes as promotion to senior positions, Chinese scientists must have published in Western journals. According to the Institute of Science and Technology of China, the number of articles written by Chinese scientists and published in non-Chinese journals increased from 13,134 in 1995 to 24,476 in 1999—a 95% increase.
Initiatives
Many Chinese colleges and universities have few scientific-writing courses, so improvement in scientific writingScientific writing
-History:Scientific writing in English started in the 14th century.The Royal Society established good practice for scientific writing. Founder member Thomas Sprat wrote on the importance of plain and accurate description rather than rhetorical flourishes in his History of the Royal Society of London...
is slow. Most first-time authors writing in Chinese for publication in China usually follow the format used in the journal to which they are submitting their manuscripts.
To improve scientific publishing in China, the government has instituted initiatives to improve scientific writing. A format for scientific and technical reports, degree theses, and scientific papers has been developed (GB7713-87). The recommendations closely follow international standards, including using the structured abstract for biomedical research
Biomedical research
Biomedical research , in general simply known as medical research, is the basic research, applied research, or translational research conducted to aid and support the body of knowledge in the field of medicine...
articles. By supporting standards set by the government and international bodies, it is hoped that health science journals improve their scientific communication.
A few books about biomedical writing have now been published in China. Also, a program, based in China, to teach biomedical writing and editing has been established with grants from the China Medical Board of New York. The purpose of this program, which began in 1996, is to increase publication of Chinese and other Asian research in English-language biomedical journals both by providing instruction in biomedical writing and by developing editors at the researchers' institutions.
Typically the writing courses have focused on the introduction and discussion sections of articles prepared for health-science journals in China. The introduction section of the paper has tended to be incomplete, so editors and readers do not understand the point of the paper. Editors envisage the introduction as being rather like a funnel, beginning with what is known about the particular problem, leading to what is unknown and important to find out, and ending with the objectives of the research. Chinese authors typically begin the discussion with a reiteration of well-known knowledge, with little attempt to indicate how their research adds to the body of knowledge. The discussion section rarely discusses the limitations of the research.
Typical Chinese manuscripts contain few references. Although that may be a long-standing tradition in Chinese publishing, it also may occur because many university and local libraries in China lack extensive collections of world literature, most articles posted on the World Wide Web are not in free-access scientific journals, and, there is generally low awareness of international websites that provide free access to journals, such as Health InterNetwork Access to Research Initiative (HINARI; http://www.healthinternetwork.org/scipub.php) and the Directory of Open Access Journals
Directory of Open Access Journals
The Directory of Open Access Journals is website maintained by Lund University which lists open access journals. The project defines open access journals as scientific and scholarly journals that meet high quality standards by exercising peer review or editorial quality control and "use a funding...
(http://www.doaj.org).
Access to journal articles is a continuing problem in China. The government intends to expand free or inexpensive Web access to journals for all scientific researchers and that researchers can be more informed of open access sites, especially those associated with the Budapest Open Access Initiative
Budapest Open Access Initiative
The Budapest Open Access Initiative was a conference convened by the Open Society Institute on December 1-2, 2001. This small gathering of individuals is recognised as one of the major historical, and defining, events of the open access movement....
(http://www.soros.org/openaccess).
See also
- Nature ChinaNature ChinaNature China is an online publication by Nature Publishing Group that highlights the best research being produced in Hong Kong and Mainland China in science and medicine. The international website was launched in January 2007. The Chinese website was launched in 25th of April 2007...
- Publishing in ChinaPublishing in ChinaThe Chinese publishing industry has continued to grow. In 2004 China published 25.77 billion copies of national-level and provincial-level newspapers, 2.69 billion magazines, and 6.44 billion books.-Overview:...
- Academic databases and search engines
- Citation indexCitation indexA citation index is a kind of bibliographic database, an index of citations between publications, allowing the user to easily establish which later documents cite which earlier documents. The first citation indices were legal citators such as Shepard's Citations...
(Science Citation IndexScience Citation IndexThe Science Citation Index is a citation index originally produced by the Institute for Scientific Information and created by Eugene Garfield in 1960, which is now owned by Thomson Reuters. The larger version covers more than 6,500 notable and significant journals, across 150 disciplines, from ...
) - Impact factorImpact factorThe impact factor, often abbreviated IF, is a measure reflecting the average number of citations to articles published in science and social science journals. It is frequently used as a proxy for the relative importance of a journal within its field, with journals with higher impact factors deemed...
- List of scientific journals
- ScienceDirectScienceDirectScienceDirect is one of the largest online collections of published scientific research in the world. It is operated by the publisher Elsevier and contains nearly 10 million articles from over 2,500 journals and over 6,000 e-books, reference works, book series and handbooks issued by Elsevier...
- PubMed CentralPubMed CentralPubMed Central is a free digital database of full-text scientific literature in biomedical and life sciences. It grew from the online Entrez PubMed biomedical literature search system. PubMed Central was developed by the U.S. National Library of Medicine as an online archive of biomedical journal...
- MEDLINEMEDLINEMEDLINE is a bibliographic database of life sciences and biomedical information. It includes bibliographic information for articles from academic journals covering medicine, nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and health care...
- HINARIHINARIHINARI is the Health InterNetwork Access to Research Initiative. It was set up by the World Health Organization and major publishers to enable developing countries to access collections of biomedical and health literature. There are over 7000 journal titles available to health institutions in 109...
- China Medical BoardChina Medical BoardThe China Medical Board of New York is a nonprofit organization that promotes health education and research in the medical universities of China.-History:...
- TEEALTEEALTEEAL is The Essential Electronic Agricultural Library. Launched in 1999, it is a self-contained agricultural research library with full-text articles and graphics of over 200 major journals. TEEAL is a project of Cornell University's in cooperation with over 60 major scientific publishers,...
Further reading
- Scientific Publication in China: An Overview and Some Thoughts on Improvement
- Bibliometric analysis of English-language academic journals of China and their internationalization Scientometrics Volume 73, Number 3 / December, 2007 pp. 331-343
- Elsevier and Endeavor Information Systems Provide Chinese Academic Consortium with Online Access to ScienceDirect May 17, 2006
- Wang, Shuhua; Weldon, Paul R. Chinese academic journals: quality, issues and solutions Learned Publishing, Volume 19, Number 2, April 2006 , pp. 97-105(9)
External links
- Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of China (ISTIC) - main body for scientific publishing in China
- STUDA.net
- BAIDU list
- ScienceDirect China Collection
- TEEAL: The Essential Electronic Agricultural Library