This section of the guide is designed to assist UK library patrons with:
- identifying journals in which to publish.
- choosing the correct journal to publish in.
- addressing Open Access journals pros and cons.
- Which journals are used by you or mentors/colleagues?
- Consider reviewing where your colleagues and mentors have published. These journals may be highly recommended in your field and therefore would be a great place to start when considering your own publications. Other questions to ask yourself: Which journals do you use frequently to keep track of new developments in your field? Does your professional organization publish journals?
- Who is your desired audience?
- It is important to consider your desired audience. Does the scope and aim of the journal you are considering meet the needs of your desired audience? If not, maybe you should consider another journal. If the target audience is limited to a selective area of research, select a journal with a narrow focus as opposed to one with a multidisciplinary focus. More specialized journals, even with a potentially smaller readership, may offer a broader dissemination of your work to your peers in a specific area of research.
- Are you required to comply with public access mandates for sharing of publications and/or data?
- Was your research funded by an organization that requires researcher to comply with public access mandates for the sharing of published materials and/or the data created? Check the author's information page on the journal's website to ensure that the journal meets the public access requirements set by your funding organization. In addition, some journals offer repositories for data. This may be helpful if you are required to publish your data. You can always use a subject-specific repository for your data if this is not available.
- Do you need to publish in a peer-reviewed journal?
- Publication in peer-reviewed journals is a requirement for tenure and promotion at most academic institutions. It is therefore important that you evaluate the peer-review process of the journals to which you are considering submitting your article.
- Is an expedited review process desired?
- If you are looking for a quick turn around, consider a journal with a frequent (weekly or monthly) publication schedule. This information can be found on the journal's information page.
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Beckerguides: Selecting a Journal For Publication: Questions To Ask Before Selecting a Journal https://beckerguides.wustl.edu/c.php?g=648201&p=4545482