Selecting the right journal is a purposeful and tactical decision that will affect journal visibility, readership, and acceptance.
Q & A Forum
Journal Selection & Submission
Q: How do I select the best journal for my manuscript?
- Selecting the right journal is a purposeful and tactical decision that will affect journal visibility, readership, and acceptance.
- Begin by critically analyzing your manuscript for the following characteristics:
- Disciplinary and topical identities
- Article type (original research, case report, meta-analysis, systematic review, etc.)
- Relevance to the target audience and end users
- Novelty level, geographic emphasis, and methodological complexity
- Use a layered approach to shortlist journals after the manuscript profile is clear:
- Aims and Scope Alignment:Review recent issues to determine if the journal’s topic and methodological approach are aligned with your work.
- Intended Audience: Consider whether the journal publishes for basic researchers, clinicians, policymakers, or a diverse group of stakeholders.
- Journal Metrics:Field adjusted. For example, an IF > 5 is standard in life sciences, but > 1.5 may be good in social sciences. Include SCImago Rank, CiteScore, and Acceptance Rate.
- Indexing and Archiving: Includes all major databases, PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, DOAJ, or Embase.
- Publication speed and editing process:Estimation based on previous issues and other third parties (i.e., SciRev, JournalGuide).
- Open Access vs. Subscription Model:Funder mandates and access goals.