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Scopus Training Module 1: Topical Search, Alerts and Analysis

Lesson Overview

In this lesson, we look at how you can expand a Scopus search. You will learn how to:

  • View citations and cited references for a list of results
  • Find related documents based on shared references, authors and keywords
  • Find results from Mendeley Data (previously DataSearch)
  • Run an advanced search using additional field code options

Relevance

What does "Relevance" mean in Scopus?

In Scopus, it is possible to sort a list of documents by a date, author, source title, citedness, or by "relevance".

By default, the results are sorted on date, with the most recently published first.

"Relevance" is a term that often causes confusion. If you or I say "I found some really relevant papers on Scopus", it means that we found articles that match the idea we had in our minds when we started searching. Relevance for humans is something subjective.

Tutorial: Expand your results

In this video tutorial, we follow a doctoral student who wants to expand a search on face recognition technology and the use of photonics. You will learn how to search using cited references, as well as view related documents based on shared references, authors and keywords.

Note: The Scopus interface has been updated since this video was created. The links to secondary documents, patents and datasets are now at the top of search results. DataSearch has been renamed Mendeley Data, and the number of results may have increased with the indexing of additional content.

Note:  For the best viewing experience, select the double arrows at the bottom right of the player to view the video at full screen. You can also download a written transcript  (Links to an external site.)of the video tutorial.

Tom is a doctoral student who will be defending his dissertation next year. He wants to make sure he has not missed any key literature in his research area of face recognition technology and the use of photonics. He wants you to help him expand his search in Scopus to find other articles that may be relevant.

Before you watch the next video tutorial, see if you can help Tom with the following tasks. You may even wish to record your results and the steps you have taken so you can compare them with the video tutorial afterwards.

  • Decide which search terms you will use for your search, keeping in mind that using wildcard asterisks and loose phrase quotation marks will broaden your search results.
  • Record the number of results.
  • From the results page, show Tom:
    • The list of documents that have gone on to cite the documents you are viewing.
    • The list of documents that have been cited by the documents featured in your search results.
    • The list of related documents for your list of results.
    • Where he can access Mendeley Data (previously DataSearch) results.

Now see how your results and steps compare with those in the video tutorial.

Tutorial: Advanced search

In this video tutorial, we follow a graduate student who wants to find articles on pancreatitis published in the subject area veterinary science. You will learn how to conduct advanced searches using field codes. 

Note: The Scopus interface has been updated since this video was created. The links to secondary documents, patents and datasets (via Mendeley Data) are now at the top of search results.

Note: For the best viewing experience, select the double arrows at the bottom right of the player to view the video at full screen. You can also download a written transcript (Links to an external site.) of the video tutorial. This video was recorded in 2018; the number of results may differ with the indexing of new content in Scopus.

Tom, the doctoral student researching face recognition technology and the use of photonics, is aware of two influential authors in his research area: K. Picos and P.K. Banerjee. He would now like to find articles about face recognition and photonics in which either Picos or Banerjee appear as the first author. In this exercise, you show him how to do this by using advanced search with additional fields.

  1. Select Advanced to go to the advanced search screen.
  2. Create the following search string using the field code selector on the right side of the screen:
    • Select the Title, Abstract, Keyword field code, add the term “fac* recog*” AND photonics

    • Select the Document field code First Author Name (FIRSTAUTH), add the authors Picos OR Banerjee 

(Tip: Expand all field codes to make sure you find the correct field code.)

  1. Add the appropriate Boolean operator in between your two search fields.
  2. Run search and review your results.

Note: Refer to the answer key (Links to an external site.) for this assignment to check your results.

Expand your search - help files

You have now completed lesson two. When you are ready, please move on to the next lesson.

TIP: The following Scopus help files contain additional information on the topics we have covered.