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In deciding in which journal to publish your research consider the following several factors: |
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The main requirement to consider is that the journal is peer-reviewed and you want to avoid predatory publishers. This ensures ensuring quality control in content, research robustness, and independent scrutiny. Your work must be discoverable, this is ensured by indexing to a quality database or databases.
Think. Check. Submit. / Think. Check. Submit. (2016). (video).
For an idea of where to publish, try using:
The impact factor (IF) is a measure of the frequency with which the average article in a journal has been cited in a particular year. It is used to measure the importance or rank of a journal by calculating the times it's articles are cited.
How Impact Factor is Calculated?
The calculation is based on a two-year period and involves dividing the number of times articles were cited by the number of articles that are citable.
Calculation of 2010 IF of a journal:
A/B = 2010 impact factor
(Source: University Library (2018). "About journal impact" In: Measuring Your Impact: Impact Factor, Citation Analysis, and other Metrics: Journal Impact Factor (IF), https://researchguides.uic.edu/if/impact, retrieved 15/2/2019.)
How important is a journal's impact factor?/ Peter Doherty, Nobel Prize Inspiration Initiative (video)
Be aware that impact factor is just one means of judging the quality of a journal. Not all journals are assessed and given an impact factor. Consider the impact factor in conjunction with Prater's "8 Ways to Identify a Questionable Open Access Journal" (2019) when deciding in which journal to publish.
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The following databases provide free access to check journal impact factors to assist in your decision on journal quality: |
Yogesh K. Dwivedi, (et al). 2021. "Editorial: How to develop a quality research article and avoid a journal desk rejection."
International Journal of Information Management, 62, 102426.
Abstract: The desk rejection of submitted articles can be a hugely frustrating and demotivating process from the perspective of the researcher, but equally, a time-consuming and vital step in the process for the Editor, tasked with selecting appropriate articles that meet the required criteria for further review and scrutiny. The feedback from journal Editors within this editorial, highlights the significant gaps in understanding from many academics of the journal assessment process and acceptance criteria for progression to the review stage. This editorial offers a valuable “lived-in” perspective on the desk rejection process through the lens of the Editor, via the differing views of nine leading journal Editors. Each Editor articulates their own perspectives on the many reasons for desk rejection, offering key insight to researchers on how to align their submissions to the specific journal requirements and required quality criteria, whilst demonstrating relevance and contribution to theory and practice. This editorial develops a succinct summary of the key findings from the differing Editor perspectives, offering a timely contribution of significant value and benefit to academics and industry researchers alike.
Keywords: Desk rejection; Publishing; Article submission; Journal review
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Send us an email to suggest additional content for this LibGuide: |
| Types of Open Access Journals: |  |
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Gold – Published materials are free of charge to user; author pays to publish. Green – Published materials are publicly available via repository after an embargo period. |
There are many reputable open access journals. (e.g. PLOS One, BMC Medicine, Critical Care, Annals of Nursing Practice, Journal of Healthcare
Leadership, and others: https://au.sagepub.com/en-gb/oce/pure-gold-open-access-journals-at-sage.)
It is up to the author to work out which journal/s are worthy of publishing their work. The health librarian can help in the decision making process.
Check out the journal title and publisher to make sure it is legitimate using Prater’s "8 steps".
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Plan S is an initiative for Open Access publishing that was launched in September 2018. The plan is supported by cOAlition S, an international consortium of research funders. Plan S requires that, from 2021, scientific publications that result from research funded by public grants must be published in compliant Open Access journals or platforms. |
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Queensland Health staff have access to publish in BMJ Case Reports via CKN.
The fellowship number to use is: 200780.
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Most journals provide aspiring authors with guidelines. The instructions are generally located on the journal's website. |
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Author guidelines usually define:
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Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA)
"PRISMA is an evidence-based minimum set of items for reporting in systematic reviews and meta-analyses. PRISMA focuses on the reporting of reviews evaluating randomized trials, but can also be used as a basis for reporting systematic reviews of other types of research, particularly evaluations of interventions." (PRISMA, 2015.)
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The quick answer is to cite as many references as necessary. There are very few hard-set rules regarding this issue. Consider: |
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“The number of references you include can project certain perceptions about the quality of your work. There is such a thing as having too many or too few.” (Source: Wordvice.com (2019). Some journals do set a limit – check the author guidelines or check with the title’s Editor. |
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Acknowledgement of expert health information services undertaken by the librarian supporting your work is required and appreciated. Please discuss this with your librarian especially for work leading to publication or submitted reports. |
