What is the scope of the journal?
Have a look at the website of the journal to find a description of the scope of the journal. You could also look at articles in previous issues to see the scope and types of articles published.
Consider:
- does your research topic fit with the stated topic coverage
- is the methodology you used appropriate
- is the type of article accepted (original research, literature review, discussion, case study, etc.)
- what is the required length of the article
Be wary of journals with a scope that is incongruent with the title, combines fields which are disjointed or includes a geographic scope bearing no relationship to the journal or publisher's origin. Investigate further to make sure the journal is trustworthy.
Will it reach your intended audience?
Investigate whether the journal will reach your target audience. You may be able to find this information on the journal’s website or by considering the nature of the articles previously published. Consider whether it is:
- generalist or specific
- aimed at practitioners, professionals, researchers, or the public
- targeted at a specific region, country, or area
How discoverable is the journal?
Your research will reach a wider audience and have more impact if it can found easily. Check if the major databases in your subject area index the journal. You can find relevant databases using the Library’s subject guides.
To find if a database indexes a journal:
What is the journal's peer review process?
You should check that the journal you are choosing undertakes this important quality control process and that you understand the type of peer review that the journal uses.
A journal that promises acceptance cannot be peer reviewing the content and should be avoided. Peer review is time consuming so also be wary of journals that advertise very fast times from submission to publication.
A good journal should be able to help you answer all the above questions on their website - look for the ‘author guidelines’ pages.