First steps
Finding the right journal to publish your research is crucial for ensuring your work reaches the right audience and receives the recognition it deserves. Here are some strategies to help you find an appropriate journal:
- Abstract and keywords search:
- Start by summarising your research in an abstract. Then, identify relevant keywords related to your study.
- Check in databases for other articles in your field and note which journals publish those articles
- Check the reference list for your manuscript. Is there a journal that has been referenced multiple times in your article? If so, would this be a potential journal to consider publishing your paper?
- Word of mouth and networking:
- Reach out to colleagues, mentors or collaborators. hey might recommend journals based on their own experiences.
- Attend conferences and engage in discussions. Networking can lead to valuable journal recommendations.
- Look at a potential journal's website and read the author instructions to understand how your article fits within the journal’s scope and whether it would meet the requirements for the types of articles published. Some journals have blogs that provide additional insights.
- Think about the focus of your research. Is it applied science, clinical, or philosophical?
- Target journals that align with your research area.
- Use tools such as Scopus Sources to browse subject areas for sources indexed by Scopus and filter by open access or journal ranking details.
- Contact your Research Librarian and have a discussion about journals, metrics and a publication strategy.
