Presence of Geographic Names, Title Length, and Title Changes

Abstract

Journal titles serve as crucial indicators of journals’ scope and affiliation and influence researchers’ perceptions of journals’ quality. This study explores the prevalence of geographic names, title length, and changes among journals indexed in Scopus. Out of 23,702 active English-language journals, 14.7 per cent incorporate geographic entities in their titles, with country names (60.4 per cent) being the most common, followed by continents (20.9 per cent), cities or universities (10.2 per cent), and regions (8.5 per cent). Approximately 12.3 per cent of these journals have undergone title changes, with a notable 40 per cent decrease in geographic name usage post-change. Alterations include broadening or removing geographic identifiers, language shifts to English, and adding the word international. On average, titles consist of 31 characters, often shortening after the removal of geographic identifiers. This research highlights the dynamic nature of journal titles in reflecting evolving trends in focus, language, and internationalization.