
The search for high-quality sources is one of the foundations for writing an excellent academic paper. With Mimir Mentor, you can not only accelerate this process but also improve it by using it to search and manage your sources.
The Importance of Good Sources
The quality and reliability of sources are crucial for any academic research. Mimir Mentor supports you in identifying top-tier journals and influential authors through indicators such as SJR and H-Index. This allows you to make targeted selections of essential and frequently cited works.
There is a danger of losing overview in the sheer volume of available documents and articles.
Using the SJR as a Quality Indicator
The Scimago Journal Rank (SJR) is an indicator of the scientific influence of a journal and considers the citation frequency of its articles as well as the reputation of the citing journals. The SJR works similarly to an echo in the academic community:
- SJR over 3:
- Significance: Excellent reputation and broad recognition worldwide.
- Example: A top-rated journal in physics might exceed an SJR of 3, indicating intensive and widespread citation of its articles.
- SJR from 1 to 3:
- Significance: Strong presence and regular citation in research.
- Example: A recognized journal in psychology with an SJR of about 2 shows its solid position in the scientific landscape.
- SJR under 1:
- Significance: Emerging or focused on specific academic niches.
- Example: A specialty journal for regional studies with an SJR of 0.5 could indicate its increasing importance in this area.
The higher the SJR of a journal, the more prestigious and influential it is in its field.
To help you identify sources from journals with a high SJR, Mimir labels them with the “Quality Journal” tag.

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Evaluating Authors with H-Index
The H-Index is an important indicator of a researcher’s scientific productivity and influence. It measures how often their publications are cited by other scientists. For example:
- A low H-Index may indicate that a researcher is at the beginning of their career or works in a very specialized field where citations are less frequent – this is not necessarily bad, but it shows less influence compared to higher H-Indexes.
- An H-Index of 10 indicates that a researcher has published at least 10 works that have each been cited at least 10 times. This is a respectable level indicating recognized research activity.
- An H-Index of 20 or more is generally seen as a sign of high influence and strong presence in the research community, especially as it shows that the researcher’s work has been consistently noticed and cited over a longer period.
- An H-Index of 60 or higher is exceptional and reflects a deep and widespread impact in the academic world, with many works being cited very frequently. Renowned scientists like Stephen Hawking or Christian Drosten are in this category.
When conducting literature research, pay attention to authors with a good H-Index. This can be an indication of quality and relevance, but be aware that the H-Index is influenced by career length and field of study. It’s important to consider the context and not solely rely on the H-Index.
Mimir marks sources where the main author has an H-Index of 20 or more with the label “Quality Author”.

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Summary of Good vs. Bad Sources
Criterion | Good Source | Bad Source |
---|---|---|
Author (H-Index) | H-Index > 20: Indicates an established and influential researcher. | H-Index < 3: May indicate a less established researcher or lesser influence. |
SJR (Journal Ranking) | SJR > 1: The journal has a strong presence in the research community. | SJR < 0.3: May indicate low recognition and less influence. |
Publication Medium | Peer-Review Journal: Sign of quality and credibility. | Website or Blog: Often not peer-reviewed and less reliable. |
Currency of the Source | Current: Reflects the present state of research. | Outdated: Research findings might be outdated. |
The table helps you to distinguish good from less good sources. A high H-Index of the author and a high SJR value of a journal are indicators of quality. In publications with peer review, an assessment by independent reviewers from the same field has been carried out beforehand, ensuring quality standards.
However, there are exceptions: A young researcher could do groundbreaking work despite a low H-Index, and open-access journals can publish important research despite a lower SJR. Moreover, some websites, like official organizations or government pages, are trustworthy despite lacking peer review. It’s important to consider the context and remain critical.
Efficient Search for Good Scientific Sources
Mimir Mentor provides access to an extensive database of over 200 million scientific publications. With advanced filter options, you can refine your search for high-quality sources:
- At least 50 citations: Choose publications that are considered influential due to their frequent citation.
- Only Quality Journals: Limit the search to journals known for their quality and reliability.
- Only Quality Authors: Filter results to only show works by recognized authors with significant contributions to their field.

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Use Mimir Mentor’s search filters to limit your search to the newest and most relevant materials.
Description of all available filters:
Mimir Search filter options | Description |
---|---|
No Filter | Displays all search results without restrictions. |
At least 50 Citations | Limits the search to sources with at least 50 citations. |
Only Quality Journals | Filters the search to only show sources from journals with high SJR values. |
Only Quality Authors | Limits results to publications by authors with high H-Index. |
Exclude Cited Journals | Excludes already cited journals from your current literature selection. |
Exclude Cited Authors | Excludes already cited authors from your current literature selection. |
Critical Evaluation of Sources
Evaluating the quality and relevance of sources is a critical step in the research process.
Use Mimir Mentor’s built-in automatic checklist to check your literature for quality and completeness.
Enhancing the Quality of Your Research Literature with Mimir Mentor
Thorough literature research is the heart of scientific works. Mimir Mentor helps you optimize this crucial aspect of your research:

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- Sources from Quality Journals: Choose at least three sources from highly regarded and high-impact factor journals.
- Sources from Quality Authors: Include works from at least three renowned authors who are leaders in their field.
- Sources with Many Citations: Ensure that at least two of your sources have been widely cited, an indicator of their influence and relevance.
With these steps, Mimir Mentor ensures that the quality of your literature base meets academic standards and your research can build upon it.
Optimize Your Literature Base with Mimir Mentor
The beginning of a research project can be daunting, but Mimir Mentor’s checklist ensures that you create a solid literature base. Here’s how you can effectively implement this:

** Image: Mimir Mentor Literature Management
- Expand Your Sources: Aim to have at least 10 different sources in your collection. A wide selection allows for a comprehensive understanding of your topic.
- Diversify Your Journals: Collecting information from at least three different journals ensures exposure to a range of perspectives and methodologies.
- Diversity of Authors: Include works from at least five different authors to avoid research bias and increase the credibility of your literature review.
- International Perspectives: Having at least one source in English can provide insights into international research and expand the scope of your work.
- Stay Current: Ensure your literature includes at least three current publications to keep your research up-to-date and relevant.
By following these steps, you are well on your way to forming a robust foundation for your thesis or research project with Mimir Mentor.
Conclusion
Mimir Mentor is an essential tool for any student wanting to underpin their academic work with thorough research. By using this platform, you can ensure that your sources meet the highest standards and your thesis is built on solid ground.
Use Mimir Mentor to carry out targeted literature research and quickly assess the quality of your sources.
FAQs
How can Mimir Mentor help in assessing the quality of sources?
Mimir Mentor provides access to key metrics and user feedback to evaluate the quality of each source.
How often does Mimir Mentor update its source database?
Mimir Mentor ensures that its database is always up to date and continuously updated with the latest scientific publications. Currently, users can access a comprehensive collection of over 200 million documents through Mimir’s search function.
How do Mimir Mentor’s citation tools work?
Mimir Mentor integrates citation tools that support a variety of citation styles and can be incorporated into the writing process.
What specific benefits does Mimir Mentor offer for literature research?
With its intuitive search and comprehensive database, Mimir Mentor facilitates the discovery and management of scientific works.
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