Finding the right journal for your research
Selecting a journal that aligns with your research objectives can significantly enhance the visibility and impact of your work. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you find the right journal for your research.
1. Define your goals
Defining your goals will help streamline your search and increase the chances of finding a journal that aligns with your aspirations. Consider the following aspects.
Audience
Identifying your target audience is fundamental. Knowing who you want to engage will guide you toward journals that cater to those readers. Bear in mind, it could be researchers in your field or other fields, industry practitioners, policymakers, or the public,
Impact
You will likely want to submit to a journal that enhances the reach and influence of your research within your target community.
Timing
Do you have a specific timeframe for when you would like your work to be published? The publication process can vary widely between journals. If timely publication is crucial, consider journals recognized for their expedited review and publication processes.
2. Identify potential journals
Once you have clearly understood your goals, the next step is to identify suitable journals for submission. This involves exploring various resources and tools to discover the best match.
Get recommendations
Seek advice from colleagues, mentors, and peers who have published in your field. Speak with speakers and attendees at conferences to gather their insights on suitable journals.
Find similar research
Search recent publications in your field and note the journals where similar or related research has been published.
Use tools
Use online journal finder tools to streamline your search process. Many publishers offer a tool to help identify suitable journals based on your manuscript’s content.
Browse journal databases
Online databases allow you to search for journals by topic, discipline, and other criteria. They can help you compare the relevance and reach of each journal in your field. They may also show additional information, such as impact metrics and citation analysis.
3. Consider journal scope and aims
Ensure the journal’s scope and aims align with your field of research.
Relevance: the journal should publish articles in your field of study.
Audience: the journal should reach the audience you want to engage.
4. Evaluate journal metrics
Impact metrics are used to evaluate the influence of academic journals within the scientific community. They usually measure how often articles within a journal have been cited in other researchers’ work.
They can help you to:
identify the high-impact journals in your field
evaluate a journal's quality
identify trending topics within your field by showing where citations are concentrated
compare your own work's impact against others in the field
While they can provide useful insights, they should be considered in conjunction with other factors. Bear in mind the journal's reputation, the quality of its peer review process, and its relevance to your research.
Learn more about how impact metrics are calculated
5. Evaluate journal quality
Review past issues
Examine articles the journal has already published. Look at:
whether the journal maintains high standards for published content
whether your work fits well within the journal's scope
Editorial board
Review the journal's editorial board and their expertise. A reputable editorial board of relevant experts is a good indicator of journal quality.
Indexing
Check whether the journal is indexed in major databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, or PubMed. Indexing signals a level of quality and credibility. It also affects how easily your research can be discovered and cited by others.
6. Assess journal policies
Open access
Decide whether you want to publish in an open access journal, which allows anyone to read your article without paying.
Learn more about the benefits of open access.
Peer review process
Understand the journal's peer review process. Peer review can be:
completely open, where reviewers and authors know each other’s identity
single-anonymized, where reviewers are anonymous but know the identity of authors
double-anonymized, where both the reviewer and author are unknown
Some publishers, including Frontiers, publish reviewers’ names on the final article. This promotes transparency and fairness. Frontiers’ peer review platform allows online conversation between authors and reviewers. This means improvements can be made quickly along the way.
Submission guidelines
Review the submission guidelines thoroughly to ensure your manuscript complies with the journal's requirements.
Review speed and publication frequency
Consider journals with a fast review process if timely publication is important. Also, check how frequently the journal publishes new issues.
7. Avoid predatory journals
Be cautious about predatory journals that charge high fees without providing quality editorial and publishing services:
Check listings: Refer to the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) for credibility checks.
Red flags: Avoid journals that guarantee publication, lack a clear editorial board, or have poor website design.
8. Making the final decision
Shortlist and compare
Narrow down your options to a few journals and compare them based on the factors discussed above.
Ask questions
Don’t hesitate to contact journals directly to clarify any doubts or ask for more information about their publication process.
Next steps
How to prepare your manuscript
How to submit your manuscript summary
An overview of Frontiers’ submission process
FAQs
Can I submit to multiple journals at once?
To avoid ethical issues, journals prohibit submitting the same manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously.
What are the chances of my manuscript being accepted?
Acceptance rates depend on several factors, including the journal, the editorial board, the reviewers, and the manuscript's quality. A well-prepared, relevant, and innovative submission that aligns with the journal's scope will have a better chance of being accepted.
Resources and tools
Journal finder tools: Frontiers’ Journal finder
Journal Impact Factor reports: Journal Citation Reports, SCImago Journal Rank
Journal listings and databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science