Where Should I Publish?
Selecting appropriate journals for publishing within your research field can be an overwhelming task. It is important to submit your work to reputable journals that effectively showcase your contributions as a researcher, establishing your credibility within the academic community. Fortunately, there are several steps and resources available to aid in this decision-making process.
In addition to the tools outlined below, you should always assess key factors such as the journal's scope, editorial board, peer review procedures, and submission guidelines. This review enables you to determine whether the journal aligns with the focus of your article and whether it upholds a high standard of credibility and professionalism, as reflected in its self-description.
Further steps in choosing an appropriate journal include asking your librarian, your colleagues, and reviewing where your colleagues and other lead researchers publish within your field.
Tools to Help You Choose the Right Journal
- Clarivate Master Journal ListHelps you find the right journal across multiple indices hosted on the Web of Science platform.
- Directory of Open Access JournalsTo identify journals in your discipline, browse by subject and limit results to "Journals". Over 10,000 journals listed on DOAJ.
- Elsevier Journal FinderSearch through academic journals using your abstract, keywords, or other details.
- Harzing Journal Quality ListA collection of smaller, well-regarded journal ranking lists. The list mostly includes journals from Economics, Finance, Accounting, Management, and Marketing.
- Journal/Article Name Estimator (JANE)Enter the title and/or abstract of the paper in the box, and click on 'Find journals', 'Find authors' or 'Find Articles'. Jane will then compare your document to millions of documents in PubMed to find the best matching journals, authors or articles.
- Journal Evaluation ToolLoyola Marymount University developed a tool to help you evaluate journals. Was specifically designed for OA journals.
- Journal Targeter (JOT)Explore journals matched to your manuscript's title, abstract and references.
- Sage Journal RecommenderEnter your manuscript title, keywords, and subject(s) in order to find relevant journals for your manuscript.
- Scholarly Publishing Information Hub (SPI-Hub)Search and learn about journals that publish within your research area.
- Scopus Journal ComparisonQuick and easy view of journal performance.
- Taylor & Francis Journal SuggesterPaste in your abstract in order to reveal suggested journals.
- Wiley Journal FinderEnter your title and abstract and Wiley will create a list of potential journals for you to consider
Use Google Scholar
Using Google Scholar Metrics allows authors to gauge the visibility and impact of scholarly publications based on citation of recent articles indexed by Google Scholar. In order to do so, you can browse the top 100 publications or select the "Categories" menu to browse by discipline.
Think. Check. Submit
Think. Check. Submit. helps researchers identify trusted journals and publishers for their research by using a checklist to assess the credentials of a journal or publisher. Produced by a cross-industry coalition, including the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), and BioMed Central.
Before You Publish
- Is the journal published by an established publisher or recognized professional society?
- Do you recognize the name of the editor-in-chief or members of the editorial board? Are they experts in your field of research?
- Does the journal provide a sample of the Copyright Transfer Agreement on its website?
- Is the publication schedule clear and consistent?
- Are the journal’s Aim and Scope clearly stated?
- Does the journal post a statement about its ethical practice? Does it appear to adhere to Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing?
- Is the publisher a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) or the International Association of Scientific, Technical & Medical Publishers (STM)?
- Is the journal listed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)? Is the publisher a member of the Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association (OASPA)?
Citation: Questions from University of Arizona Libguide on Predatory Publishers