EVALUATING SCHOLARLY DATABASES FOR RESEARCH DISCOVERY AND IMPACT ASSESSMENT: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SCOPUS, WEB OF SCIENCE, RESEARCHGATE, AND GOOGLE SCHOLAR

Purpose - The selection of an appropriate scholarly database is essential for effective research discovery, citation analysis, and impact assessment. This study comparatively evaluates Scopus, Web of Science, ResearchGate, and Google Scholar with respect to their coverage, indexing quality, citation metrics, research visibility, and suitability for scholarly research. Design/methodology/approach - The study employs a qualitative comparative research approach based on an extensive review of scholarly publications, bibliometric studies, database documentation, and research evaluation reports. Comparative analysis was conducted to assess the strengths, limitations, and applications of four widely used scholarly databases. Findings - The findings indicate that Scopus and Web of Science provide highly reliable citation indexing and standardized bibliometric indicators, whereas Google Scholar offers the broadest document coverage for literature discovery. ResearchGate enhances research dissemination through academic networking and alternative visibility metrics. The study demonstrates that integrating multiple databases provides more comprehensive research evaluation than relying on a single platform. Practical implications - The findings assist researchers, librarians, journal editors, universities, and policymakers in selecting appropriate scholarly databases for literature review, citation analysis, institutional evaluation, and research impact assessment. Originality/value - This paper presents a concise comparative evaluation of four leading scholarly databases by integrating research discovery, citation analysis, and research impact assessment into a unified analytical framework that supports informed scholarly decision-making.