The Perfect Pairing: Art of Selecting the Best Journals for Your Research

Esha Pandit, Research Scholar, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology

Selecting the appropriate journal for research papers is among the most crucial choices a researcher must make. The publication journal frequently determines an original research work’s impact and reach. Let’s explore some of the factors that could assist the researchers in selecting the best publication for their work and making an informed choice.

Prior to the writing phase, journal selection can be finalized. This gives the researcher some ideas regarding similar works published in the journal and allows them to tailor the article accordingly. Also, keeping the journal format in mind while writing the article saves time and improves chances of acceptance.

Speaking to colleagues and subject experts can be extremely helpful in choosing the right journal. Several journals also provide journal suggestion tools like Elsevier Journal Finder or Springer Journal Suggester, which can help the researchers to pick the right journal based on the title, topic of research or a brief abstract. The researchers can also do some desk research and look out for ‘special issues’ and ‘call for papers’.

The next step is looking at specific technical details in order to narrow down the shortlisted journals. Being aware of the ‘aims and scopes’ of the journal helps in making an informed decision. Here are a few things that the researcher can consider at this step-

Is the journal’s audience suitable for this particular research?

Is the manuscript type appropriate for the journal?

Is the research work unique for this journal?

The researcher should also evaluate the journal’s affiliation, editorial board members, and past writers who have published in the journal. All of these indicators provide valuable information into the journal’s status and reach.

Lastly, reading the journal policies, understanding the journal metrics and deciding the type of publication  (subscriber only or open access) provide the researcher with a comprehensive grasp of the best journal for their work and help them to make a final decision.

The impact of the ‘Impact Factor’?

Impact factor has emerged as the most important journal indicator in recent times. It is used to assess the relevance of a journal and how frequently its articles are cited. While it provides a sense of the journal’s reputation, a more in-depth examination of the audience reading the journal, subject area, and popularity is also required. Considering other journal indicators such as Altmetric Attention Score, CiteScore, and Eigenfactor allows one to make an informed decision.

Avoiding the ‘Predatory Journals’

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of predatory publications that falsely utilize the names of already established and reputable journals. These predatory publications charge significant upfront fees to students and researchers, and the findings may go unpublished or published in a subpar quality journal. Researchers must check the legitimacy and status of their chosen journal. Websites like Think.Check.Submit helps in authenticating a journal’s legitimacy, whereas websites like the Beall’s List help to flag the predatory ones.

Is ‘PubMed Index’ a must?

Every researcher aspires to publish in reputable journals that are indexed in well-known databases. The free site PubMed is most notable for its MEDLINE collection of references and abstracts on life science and biomedical issues. Because Pubmed indexing ensures the journal’s quality and legitimacy, it is trusted worldwide. Furthermore, it ensures that research published in these journals is of the greatest quality and that journal visibility is consistently high. The researcher can save time by choosing a publication that is indexed in PubMed, as it ensures the journal’s authenticity.

The curious case of CUREUS

Cureus is a PubMed indexed, open access, multispeciality, online-only journal, with 3.4 million average monthly reads and 1.1 impact factor. This journal published by Springer Nature has gained popularity for its inclusivity, fast review process and zero article processing fees. The fast reviewing system has gained some negative criticism as many scientists believe the bulk quantity of research published affects the quality. While, it might not be the best choice to publish an original research work or an innovative technology, it can be considered for publishing original case studies or reviews.

Hope this helps in making an informed decision and finding the perfect match for your research work. Afterall, “Research is creating new knowledge.”