Comparing the SDG-classification systems of Dimensions, InCites and SciVal for the University of Helsinki

Introduction. We determined how the publications of the University of Helsinki were attributed to the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) in three different databases. The databases were Dimensions, Scopus and Web of Science. We also looked at the overlaps. Method. DOIs for the pu...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Petri Turunen, Terhi Sandgren
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Borås 2025-01-01
Series:Information Research: An International Electronic Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://publicera.kb.se/ir/article/view/40516
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1832540462338015232
author Petri Turunen
Terhi Sandgren
author_facet Petri Turunen
Terhi Sandgren
author_sort Petri Turunen
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. We determined how the publications of the University of Helsinki were attributed to the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) in three different databases. The databases were Dimensions, Scopus and Web of Science. We also looked at the overlaps. Method. DOIs for the publications were collected from our current research information system. These DOIs were then used to create publication sets in the databases. SDG-attributions of publications in these publication sets were collected for analysis. Analysis. Total publication counts and overlaps were calculated with simple Excel functions. This was done for all publications and separately for only those publications that were found in all three databases. Venn graphs were plotted for each sustainable development goal. Results. The analysis revealed significant differences between the attributions. Overlaps tended to be low usually covering only a few percent up to, at best, half of the publications. Total number of publications also varied with manyfold differences. The attributions were also found to be rather unstable due to updates in attribution systems. Conclusions. Sustainable development goal attributions are very database dependent and remain unstable. At present, there is no responsible way to track them for evaluative purposes. It is unlikely that the situation will change in the future. This is due to their general scope and a lack of stabilising mechanisms.
format Article
id doaj-art-670f755eab054d60a12d3e9f4b773fda
institution Kabale University
issn 1368-1613
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher University of Borås
record_format Article
series Information Research: An International Electronic Journal
spelling doaj-art-670f755eab054d60a12d3e9f4b773fda2025-02-05T01:42:23ZengUniversity of BoråsInformation Research: An International Electronic Journal1368-16132025-01-0130110.47989/ir30140516Comparing the SDG-classification systems of Dimensions, InCites and SciVal for the University of HelsinkiPetri Turunen0Terhi Sandgren1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7377-8134University of HelsinkiUniversity of Helsinki Introduction. We determined how the publications of the University of Helsinki were attributed to the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) in three different databases. The databases were Dimensions, Scopus and Web of Science. We also looked at the overlaps. Method. DOIs for the publications were collected from our current research information system. These DOIs were then used to create publication sets in the databases. SDG-attributions of publications in these publication sets were collected for analysis. Analysis. Total publication counts and overlaps were calculated with simple Excel functions. This was done for all publications and separately for only those publications that were found in all three databases. Venn graphs were plotted for each sustainable development goal. Results. The analysis revealed significant differences between the attributions. Overlaps tended to be low usually covering only a few percent up to, at best, half of the publications. Total number of publications also varied with manyfold differences. The attributions were also found to be rather unstable due to updates in attribution systems. Conclusions. Sustainable development goal attributions are very database dependent and remain unstable. At present, there is no responsible way to track them for evaluative purposes. It is unlikely that the situation will change in the future. This is due to their general scope and a lack of stabilising mechanisms. https://publicera.kb.se/ir/article/view/40516Sustainable Development GoalsWeb of ScienceScopusDimensions
spellingShingle Petri Turunen
Terhi Sandgren
Comparing the SDG-classification systems of Dimensions, InCites and SciVal for the University of Helsinki
Information Research: An International Electronic Journal
Sustainable Development Goals
Web of Science
Scopus
Dimensions
title Comparing the SDG-classification systems of Dimensions, InCites and SciVal for the University of Helsinki
title_full Comparing the SDG-classification systems of Dimensions, InCites and SciVal for the University of Helsinki
title_fullStr Comparing the SDG-classification systems of Dimensions, InCites and SciVal for the University of Helsinki
title_full_unstemmed Comparing the SDG-classification systems of Dimensions, InCites and SciVal for the University of Helsinki
title_short Comparing the SDG-classification systems of Dimensions, InCites and SciVal for the University of Helsinki
title_sort comparing the sdg classification systems of dimensions incites and scival for the university of helsinki
topic Sustainable Development Goals
Web of Science
Scopus
Dimensions
url https://publicera.kb.se/ir/article/view/40516
work_keys_str_mv AT petriturunen comparingthesdgclassificationsystemsofdimensionsincitesandscivalfortheuniversityofhelsinki
AT terhisandgren comparingthesdgclassificationsystemsofdimensionsincitesandscivalfortheuniversityofhelsinki