The ultimate aim of research is to be published in the right journal, adding to the body of work in your field and thus progressing it. However, with rigorous quality standards and peer review, rejection rates are necessarily high in academia. The rate of rejection is often compounded by researchers submitting their research to an ill-suited journal, which can delay publication and slow career progression.

To help prevent unnecessary rejections and accelerate your career, we’ve put together some tips on how to choose the right journal for your paper.

Evaluating your research

The most important step in finding the right journal for your paper is accurately assessing your research in terms of impact and appeal. Knowing whether your paper is groundbreaking or whether it is a small contribution to the field should help to inform your choice in journal.

Additionally, ensuring that the topic of your paper is within the scope of the journal you’re submitting to is paramount. Submitting a paper with broad applications to a highly specialised journal will most likely result in rejection. Thus, it’s important to thoroughly research the scope of the journal and evaluate the relevance of your research within those parameters.

It’s also important to think about your paper in terms of audience.

• Who would benefit from your research?
• Is it a specialised topic or does it have broad applications in many fields?
• Does it have global impact or are the results localised to a specific area or group?

Asking these questions helps you outline your audience, enabling you to pick the journal that best targets this group.

Scoping out potential journals

There are a number of ways to find suitable journals for your research.

Using online academic databases to search for similar studies to your own is an effective way to find journals whose scopes align with your research. By using relevant keywords, you can create a shortlist of potential journals to submit to.

Then, after researching their respective scopes in more detail, you can decide which are the best fit for your paper. There are also many online tools that will suggest journals for you based upon your keywords.

You can also evaluate the general interest and readership of a journal to establish if they have access to the right audience for your research. Consider whether the journal primarily publishes niche studies or has broader appeal, as well as the demographics and geographic reach of its readership.

Reviewing the journal’s past publications and citations can also provide insight into its impact within the field. Consulting colleagues or mentors who are familiar with the publishing landscape can also be invaluable in assessing the journal’s relevance to your work.

Finally, it is highly beneficial to decide which journal is the best fit prior to writing your paper. This will allow you to write your paper in line with their house rules and formatting guidelines, as well as apply your findings better to their scope.

Factors to consider

There are many factors to think about when choosing the right journal for your research.

Impact Factor

Impact Factors are a somewhat controversial journal grading tool, with many arguing that it only offers a narrow estimate of a journal’s worth. Nevertheless, it is a highly used metric that influences many aspects academic life, such as hiring, promotions, grants and funding, the visibility and recognition of your work, opportunities for collaboration, and more.

If your research presents a huge advancement in your field, it most likely belongs in a journal with a high Impact Factor. If, however, you are submitting incremental or very niche research, it is more appropriate to submit to a journal with a lower Impact Factor with the right readership.

Readership and potential reach

When you’ve defined the target audience for your research, you can find the journal with a readership that is most aligned with this. Most journals have metrics available on their websites, including how many readers they have and the demographic profiles of those readers.

Additionally, you can also research journals’ other activities. A high level of reader interaction on social media, for example, can indicate an active and engaged audience, and that the journal promotes studies and generates excitement in their academic community. Altmetric, a tool that can be used to track the online conversations about research, can be used in this process.

Publication model

The journal’s publication model influences both the accessibility to your research and potential costs. Subscription model journals limit the access to your paper, with only those with institutional access or who can afford to pay being able to view your research.

Publishing Open Access, for example, can increase the visibility of your research, and has been shown to lead to more citations. Read our article on 6 Benefits of Open Access to find out more about this publishing model.

Choosing a journal

Choosing the right journal is a critical step in ensuring the success and impact of your research. By carefully evaluating your work, understanding your target audience, and thoroughly researching potential journals, you can significantly improve your chances of acceptance and meaningful dissemination.

With a strategic approach, you can find the perfect platform to showcase your research, advance your career, and contribute to your field.