Once you’ve completed the final draft of your research paper and have had it edited by a professional company, you need to find it a home. Choosing the right journal for your paper is a problem both novices and experienced researchers struggle with. One of the worst mistakes you can make for your work is publishing it in an unsuitable journal—and sending it to inappropriate outlets can also be a waste of your valuable time. But how do you know if a journal is suitable for your work? Keeping in mind things like the journal’s scope, restrictions on manuscript types or topics, and the journal’s impact factor can help you find the perfect publication for your paper.

Figure out a Journal’s Aims and Scopes

You can generally find information about a journal’s aims and scopes on its homepage. This section is typically labeled something along the lines of “About the Journal,” or “Full Aims and Scope.” Here, you can assess whether the journal is a good match for your research based on topic and criteria. Some journals have a broader scope than others. For example, the Clinical Cancer Research journal has a very narrow scope: its website states that the journal prioritizes laboratory and animal studies of new drugs and molecular targeted agents with the potential to lead to clinical trials. On the other hand, PLOS ONE accepts reports of original research from all disciplines within science and medicine. Sometimes journals will also clearly state what kind of research they do not publish in their aims and scope section.

Check for Similar Research Publications

Another great way to determine whether a journal is the right fit for your paper is to read through a couple of issues and see if you can find similar research articles to yours. One way you can do this is by searching for your paper’s keywords or title in the journal’s archives. A good rule of thumb is to see whether the journal has published 3–5 works in the last five years that are similar to your paper in terms of quality and scope. Finding published research that is similar to yours is a great sign that your research topic is of interest to a journal’s particular audience, which increases your chance of review.

Watch Out for Specific Restrictions

Before you consider submitting to any journal, you should always check the publication’s restrictions. Things like word count, type of paper, and cost of publication are all important aspects to consider before submitting your research for review. You can usually find out about a journal’s restrictions and requirements in the “Information for Authors” section of its website. Submitting a research paper that goes over the word count or is in the wrong format can mean immediate rejection.

Pay Attention to the Impact Factor

A journal’s impact factor serves as a way for authors to determine its quality and reputation. There has been some controversy when it comes to using the impact factor as the only measurement of a journal’s quality; this is because the impact factor is derived from a number of criteria, not all of which are necessarily relevant to the quality of the research the journal publishes. Nevertheless, it’s worth considering the impact factor in your search for an appropriate journal. Of course, it might be tempting to only submit to journals with high impact factors, but those with a lower number may be more appropriate, particularly for your first attempts at publication. Keep an open mind, and do your research to find a journal that fits your work.

 

Finding the perfect home for your research paper can take time and effort, but putting in this work can ultimately increase its chances of being published and reaching the right audience. It also saves time and rejection-heartache in the long run!