Many novice researchers mistakenly think that publishing in collections of conference abstracts is equal to publications in periodical scientific editions. However, this is not true, the placement of articles in conference abstracts has a number of significant disadvantages that will not bring the desired results. Let's consider the main reasons why you should avoid publishing in conference abstracts.
1. Limited scientific value
Publication of conference abstracts does not have a strong impact on scientific productivity. Unlike articles in peer-reviewed journals, such publications do not undergo rigorous peer review by reviewers and are often perceived as less important. Many scientific foundations, grantors, academic institutions and employers do not consider articles published in conference abstracts as significant scientific achievements.
2. Lack of indexing in the authoritative databases Scopus and Web of Science
Most conference abstracts are not indexed in Scopus and WOS or other authoritative databases. This means that they remain virtually invisible to a wide scientific audience and do not contribute to the growth of citation rates of a scientist.
3. Risk of copyright loss
Some conferences require the transfer of copyright for published abstracts. This may create difficulties in the future when publishing a full article, as some publishers of scientific journals may consider abstracts as already published scientific work.
4. Limited reach of the scientific audience
If your goal is to maximize the reach of your target audience, you should avoid publishing in conference abstracts. Conference proceedings are often published in small quantities and are not widely distributed. It is much more effective to present a paper at a conference and then prepare a full-fledged article for a peer-reviewed journal in a reputable Scopus or WOS database.
5. Lack of a rigorous peer review process
Conference abstracts tend to undergo a less rigorous selection process. Reviewing in conference abstracts is often limited to checking the relevance of the conference theme, which affects the quality of such scientific materials.
In contrast to such publications, articles indexed in scientometric databases undergo a thorough double-blind review procedure. Reviewers carefully check the relevance and novelty of the research. This approach ensures a high standard of quality of published materials.
Can conference papers be considered full-fledged publications?
In most cases, conference abstracts can be considered full-fledged publications. However, their significance and value depend on many factors: the subject area, the availability of peer review, and the prestige of the conference itself. For example, in computer science, publications in conference abstracts are perceived as more weighty than in mathematical disciplines. At the same time, small local conferences may not review papers at all or may conduct formal peer review.
There is also confusion about terminology. Sometimes a "conference paper" refers only to an oral or poster presentation, which may not have made it into the conference abstracts. If the proceedings do not contain your abstracts, the paper is not considered published.
Scientific articles published in journals indexed in Scopus have significantly higher scientific value compared to conference abstracts, even if the latter are also included in this database. In terms of importance and influence, one article in an authoritative journal Scopus can be equal to ten publications in conference abstracts. This is due to a more rigorous peer-review procedure, in-depth examination of materials and a high level of international recognition of publications in Scopus editions.
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