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Scholarly journals are periodicals that publish articles containing original research, reviews, or theoretical studies in a specific academic field. These journals are typically written by experts or researchers and are peer-reviewed, meaning that submitted articles are evaluated by other experts in the field for quality, accuracy, and relevance before publication. Scholarly journals often serve as a platform for the dissemination of new knowledge, discoveries, or developments in a discipline.

Why is it important to publish in a scholarly journal?

  • The peer-review process ensures that the research is rigorously evaluated and validated by experts. 
  • For researchers, publishing in reputable journals is often a requirement for career progression. 
  • Publishing allows researchers to contribute to the ongoing conversation and development of their field. 
  • Publishing in a scholarly journal can increase visibility and provide opportunities for collaboration.
  • Published articles in peer-reviewed journals serve as reliable sources for other researchers, practitioners, and policymakers
  • The process of writing and revising for publication hones a researcher’s writing, critical thinking, and research skills.

How do I decide where to publish?

Consider the following questions to help guide your decision: 

Are there any tools to help me decide?

The following tools match your manuscript to journals based on content similarity:

Recommended resources:

Recorded webinar - Deciding where to publish

Request a report of recommended journals

Journal rankings, impact, and metrics are ways to assess the quality and influence of academic journals. They can play a role in determining the prestige of a journal and can influence decisions regarding where to submit research. 

Why are journal rankings and impact important?

  • Publishing in high-ranking journals can boost the visibility and credibility of a researcher’s work.
  • It can also enhance career advancement, funding opportunities, and institutional recognition.
  • High-impact journals often have a global reach, meaning research published in them can influence developments worldwide.

However, not all fields have the same citation practices, and some areas of research may naturally have lower citation rates.
Focusing too heavily on impact factors can encourage quantity over quality in publishing, or lead to the preference for journals that are easier to publish in despite their lower impact.

How do I find a journal's ranking?

Use the following tools:

Recommended resources:

Understanding journal impact

Peer review is the process where research articles are evaluated by experts before publication to assess their quality, validity, significance, and originality. 

Why is peer review important?

  • It ensures the validity of research and prevents the publication of misleading or falsified works.
  • It provides valuable feedback so that researchers can revise and improve their work based on analysis by experts in the field
  • It serves as an independent check, as an second eye apart from the editor group, to minimise bias or misconduct.

The peer review process

The peer review process generally involves several key steps. Submission to publication can be a lengthy process.

  1. Submission
  2. Initial Editorial Assessment
  3. Selection of Reviewers
  4. Peer Review
  5. Reviewer Feedback:
    1. Accept: The paper is deemed suitable for publication with little to no revision.
    2. Conditional Acceptance: The paper can be accepted after significant revisions are made.
    3. Reject: The paper does not meet the journal’s standards or is unsuitable for publication.
  6. Editorial Decision
  7. Revisions (if applicable)
  8. Final Acceptance or Rejection

  9. Publication

Recommended resources:

North Carolina State University Libraries. (2014). Peer review in 3 minutes.

“Predatory journals and publishers are entities that prioritize self-interest at the expense of scholarship and are characterized by false or misleading information, deviation from best editorial and publication practices, a lack of transparency, and/or the use of aggressive and indiscriminate solicitation practices." (Grudniewicz et al., 2019, p. 211)

Why is it important to identify predatory publishers?

  • Predatory journals often lack rigorous peer review, leading to the publication of low-quality, unverified, or even fraudulent research.
  • Publishing in a predatory journal can harm a researcher’s credibility and career progression.
  • These publishers charge high article processing fees (APCs) without providing proper editorial or publishing services.
  • Predatory journals are often not indexed, making research harder to find and cite.

How to identify predatory publishers?

  • If a journal accepts papers quickly without revisions.
  • Fake impact factors or indexing claims.
  • Unsolicited emails promising quick publication.
  • Fake or unqualified editorial members.
  • Poorly designed websites, lack of retraction policies, or hidden fees.
Example
The World Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology is likely a predatory journal. Its ISSN cannot be confirmed, it is not indexed in Medline, and it's editorial board do not have the appropriate expertise.

Recommended resources:

Predatory Publishing A-Z Elements

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