The SCOPUS database is a cornerstone for academic research, offering access to over 92 million records across peer-reviewed journals, conference papers, and books. To maximize its potential, researchers need to leverage its advanced search features and strategic query construction. Below is a comprehensive guide to navigating SCOPUS effectively.

1. Basic Search: Start with Simple Queries

Begin with SCOPUS’s intuitive homepage search bar. Enter keywords related to your topic, such as:

• General terms: "artificial intelligence ethics"
• Specific concepts: "neural networks cybersecurity applications"

SCOPUS automatically searches across titles, abstracts, and keywords (title-abs-key). Use quotation marks for exact phrases:
"machine learning algorithms" .

For broader results, combine synonyms with OR:
(autism OR Asperger’s) AND children .

2. Advanced Search: Precision with Boolean and Proximity Operators

For complex queries, switch to Advanced Search to use field codes, Boolean operators, and proximity operators:

Boolean Operators

• AND: Requires both terms (narrows results):
  (climate change) AND (renewable energy)
• OR: Includes either term (broadens results):
  (COVID-19 OR SARS-CoV-2) AND vaccine
• AND NOT: Excludes specific terms:
  (cancer treatment) AND NOT chemotherapy .

Proximity Operators

• W/n: Words within n words, order irrelevant:
  (heart W/5 attack)
• PRE/n: Words within n words, maintaining order:
  (behavioral PRE/3 disturbances) .

Example:
title-abs-key( (bay PRE/6 ship*) OR channel OR fish ) .

Field Codes

Target specific document sections using codes like:

• TITLE-ABS-KEY(algorithm)
• AUTHOR-NAME(Zhang, Y.)
• AFFIL(University of Oxford) .

Full list of field codes: SCOPUS Help Center .

3. Refine Results for Accuracy

Use SCOPUS’s left-hand filters to narrow results by:

• Publication year: Focus on recent studies or historical context.
• Subject area: Filter by Engineering, Medicine, or Social Sciences.
• Document type: Select journal articles, reviews, or conference papers.
• Open Access: Access freely available full-texts.

For example, filter 2020–2025 publications in Computer Science with Open Access status .

4. Track Authors and Citations

SCOPUS Author Identifier

Avoid confusion with authors sharing similar names by using the Author ID system. Each author is assigned a unique number, grouping all their publications. For example:

• Search AUTHOR-ID(123456789) to retrieve all works by a specific researcher .
• Verify affiliations and subject areas on the author profile page to ensure accuracy.

Citation Tracking

Monitor how your work or other studies are cited:

1. Cited by links: View which papers reference a specific article.
2. Author citation alerts: Receive emails when new citations are added to an author’s profile .

5. Access Full-Text Resources

While SCOPUS provides abstracts, full-text access depends on your institution’s subscriptions. Use these methods:

• Download via SCOPUS: If available, click the blue Download button.
• View at Publisher: Link directly to the publisher’s website.
• Interlibrary Loan: Request unavailable articles through your library .

6. Save and Monitor Searches

• Search Alerts: Automate updates for new publications matching your query. Schedule alerts to run daily, weekly, or monthly .
• Export Citations: Save results in formats like RIS, CSV, or BibTeX for reference management tools (e.g., Mendeley).
• Folder Organization: Categorize results into folders for different research projects.

7. Troubleshooting Common Issues

Too Many Results?

• Add more specific keywords: (solar panels) AND (efficiency) AND (thin-film technology)
• Use AND NOT to exclude irrelevant terms: (obesity) AND NOT (childhood)

Too Few Results?

• Expand with OR: (diabetes OR hyperglycaemia) AND (treatment)
• Use truncation (*) for word variations: educat* = education, educator, educating .

Conclusion

Effectively searching SCOPUS requires a combination of strategic query construction, advanced operators, and systematic refinement. By mastering Boolean logic, field codes, and citation tracking, researchers can streamline their literature reviews and stay ahead of emerging trends. Start with simple queries, gradually incorporate advanced features, and leverage SCOPUS’s tools to enhance your academic output.

For detailed tutorials, visit the SCOPUS Help Center.