How to target journalsHow to target journals

Dr. Steve WallaceDr. Steve Wallace

Collect a pool of potential journals for each Collect a pool of potential journals for each articlearticle

For each paper, collect a pool of For each paper, collect a pool of potential journals. potential journals. 1) Do not submit two papers to the 1) Do not submit two papers to the same journal in two months, same journal in two months, especially if the two articles are especially if the two articles are related. related. 2) Editors prefer to publish two 2) Editors prefer to publish two articles by different authors.articles by different authors.3) Better for your CV3) Better for your CV

Collecting your poolCollecting your pool

KeywordsKeywords

Relatedness metricsRelatedness metrics

ReferencesReferences

ScopusScopus

Aims and scopeAims and scope

Editor’s letterEditor’s letter

Reviewing the journalReviewing the journal

Send your research where you have the Send your research where you have the highest probability for publication.highest probability for publication.

Sometimes journals have biases and Sometimes journals have biases and preferencespreferencesSubject matter: Empirical, Subject matter: Empirical, Theoretical papers? Theoretical papers? Check past issues of the journal. How Check past issues of the journal. How many Chinese names can you find? many Chinese names can you find? Preferences are known; biases are Preferences are known; biases are difficult to detect. difficult to detect.

PracticePracticePick journals like you pick stocksPick journals like you pick stocks

Do homework on journals. Do homework on journals.

Submit paper to a journal with a rising Submit paper to a journal with a rising impact factor and higher acceptance rates. impact factor and higher acceptance rates. avoid declining journals with low avoid declining journals with low acceptance and diminishing impact factor. acceptance and diminishing impact factor.

Could cause the journal to be removed Could cause the journal to be removed from the SSCI and SCI ranking. from the SSCI and SCI ranking.

Practice Practice Identifying journals with rising impact factorsIdentifying journals with rising impact factors

Good specialty journal’s impact factors are rising. Good specialty journal’s impact factors are rising. General journal’s impact factor, except for a few General journal’s impact factor, except for a few at the top, are expected to decline at the top, are expected to decline In general journals, "readers are confronted with In general journals, "readers are confronted with a decreasing probability of finding at least one a decreasing probability of finding at least one important article in their field." (Holub, Tappeiner, important article in their field." (Holub, Tappeiner, and Eberharter, 1991). and Eberharter, 1991). In the 1970s, the top ten journals in every field In the 1970s, the top ten journals in every field were general journals. were general journals. In the 1990s, half of the top ten journals were In the 1990s, half of the top ten journals were specialized journals. specialized journals.

How do journals compare to each How do journals compare to each other? other?

Journal Citation ReportsJournal Citation Reports, published , published annually by the Institute for Scientific annually by the Institute for Scientific Information in Philadelphia, Information in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, provides statistical Pennsylvania, provides statistical information about all established information about all established journals. journals.

Total CitationsTotal CitationsTotal Citations (TC) is the number of all Total Citations (TC) is the number of all citations papers in the journal during a citations papers in the journal during a year. A large TC may indicate a journal's year. A large TC may indicate a journal's dominance in the field. dominance in the field. A large TC is also characteristic of A large TC is also characteristic of multidisciplinary journals (such as multidisciplinary journals (such as NatureNature) ) and journals catering to broad fields (such and journals catering to broad fields (such as as Journal of Geophysical ResearchJournal of Geophysical Research). ). A small TC may indicate a journal's A small TC may indicate a journal's weakness or less frequent publication. weakness or less frequent publication. However, it is also typical for narrow-However, it is also typical for narrow-specialty journals even of high quality. specialty journals even of high quality.

Cited Half-LifeCited Half-LifeCited Half-Life (CHL) is the number of Cited Half-Life (CHL) is the number of journal publication years going back from journal publication years going back from the current year which account for 50% of the current year which account for 50% of the total citations received by the cited the total citations received by the cited journal in the current year. journal in the current year. It indicates the age of its average cited It indicates the age of its average cited articles. A large CHL may imply longevity articles. A large CHL may imply longevity of the published information. of the published information. However, a relatively small CHL may However, a relatively small CHL may reflect a journal's emphasis on cutting reflect a journal's emphasis on cutting edge research and its timeliness. edge research and its timeliness.

Impact FactorImpact FactorImpact Factor (IF) is the ratio between the Impact Factor (IF) is the ratio between the number of all current citations of source items number of all current citations of source items published in a journal during the previous 2 years published in a journal during the previous 2 years to the total number of articles that the journal to the total number of articles that the journal published during that time. published during that time. It can also be viewed as the frequency with which It can also be viewed as the frequency with which the "average article" in the journal has been cited the "average article" in the journal has been cited in a particular year. in a particular year. It is also believed to be a fair quality measure It is also believed to be a fair quality measure that "tends to discount the advantage that large, that "tends to discount the advantage that large, frequently issued, older journals have over frequently issued, older journals have over smaller, less frequently issued, newer journals" smaller, less frequently issued, newer journals" [[McDonnellMcDonnell, 1997]. , 1997].

Practice Practice Approach different types of journalsApproach different types of journals

Sending all papers to top journals is Sending all papers to top journals is risky risky Sending all papers to low-quality Sending all papers to low-quality journals is unsatisfactory journals is unsatisfactory Quantity and quality important. Quantity and quality important. Having three papers in different Having three papers in different journals is better than three in one journals is better than three in one journal, if the relative quality of the journal, if the relative quality of the journals is the same.journals is the same.

Questionable publishing outletsQuestionable publishing outletsChapters in edited volumesChapters in edited volumesNon peer reviewed academic journalsNon peer reviewed academic journalsGraduate student journalsGraduate student journalsNote journals Note journals Review journalsReview journalsLocal journalsLocal journalsNew JournalsNew JournalsElectronic journalsElectronic journalsNon SCI journals Non SCI journals

Preferred publishing outletsPreferred publishing outlets

Regional journalsRegional journals

Newer journals Newer journals

Interdisciplinary journalsInterdisciplinary journals

Field journalsField journals

Disciplinary journalsDisciplinary journals

Problems of JournalsProblems of JournalsAssociation journalsAssociation journals: Editors change every few : Editors change every few

years, and usually accept more papers from years, and usually accept more papers from colleagues and friends. Since the editors are chosen colleagues and friends. Since the editors are chosen from a few major institutions, they get a larger share from a few major institutions, they get a larger share of publications. They are of publications. They are subsidized by subsidized by associationsassociations. (AER, Econometrica, IEEE, ACM). (AER, Econometrica, IEEE, ACM)

University journalsUniversity journals: Universities protect their own : Universities protect their own interests. Will often have a stated preference for interests. Will often have a stated preference for their own teachers’ and students’ papers. their own teachers’ and students’ papers. Subsidized by universitiesSubsidized by universities. (HBR, MIT Sloan). (HBR, MIT Sloan)

Commercial journalsCommercial journals: Least likely to have : Least likely to have preferences or biases. preferences or biases. Subsidized by reader Subsidized by reader subscriptionssubscriptions. (Blackwell, North-Holland,Elsevier ). (Blackwell, North-Holland,Elsevier )

Reviewing journals (1)Reviewing journals (1)Is the journal peer reviewed?Is the journal peer reviewed?Is the journal in the recommended Is the journal in the recommended publishing outlet category?publishing outlet category?Does the Journal have a solid reputation Does the Journal have a solid reputation and reputable publisher?and reputable publisher?How old is the journal?How old is the journal?Is the journal carefully produced?Is the journal carefully produced?Does the journal come out on time?Does the journal come out on time?Are the authors published in its pages Are the authors published in its pages diverse?diverse?

Reviewing journals (2)Reviewing journals (2)Does the journal publish more than five or Does the journal publish more than five or six articles a year?six articles a year?

Is the Journal online or indexed Is the Journal online or indexed electronically and where?electronically and where?

Does it take a long time to get published Does it take a long time to get published once you submit your manuscript?once you submit your manuscript?

Is the Journal going through a transition?Is the Journal going through a transition?

Who reads the Journal?Who reads the Journal?

Matching your article to the journalMatching your article to the journal

Does the Journal have a upcoming theme Does the Journal have a upcoming theme or special issue on your topic?or special issue on your topic?

Does the Journal have word or page length Does the Journal have word or page length limits you can meet?limits you can meet?

Does the style of your article match the Does the style of your article match the journal style?journal style?

Do you know any of the journal editors?Do you know any of the journal editors?

How does your journal require articles to How does your journal require articles to be submitted?be submitted?

Things to ask the assistant editorThings to ask the assistant editor

How many submissions a year does How many submissions a year does your journal receive?your journal receive?

What is your journal’s turnaround What is your journal’s turnaround time? time?

What is your journal’s backlog?What is your journal’s backlog?

Elements of a query letter to the Elements of a query letter to the EditorEditor

Address editor by nameAddress editor by nameAny human connectionsAny human connectionsWhy he should be interestedWhy he should be interestedDisplay a knowledge of the journalDisplay a knowledge of the journalYour title and abstractYour title and abstractArticle’s lengthArticle’s lengthNot been published beforeNot been published beforeGrants or awardsGrants or awardsPotential problem to tease reviewPotential problem to tease review

Emeraldinsight JournalsEmeraldinsight Journals

Emma Hollindrake, Emma Hollindrake, External Relations AssistantExternal Relations Assistant ““Don’t forget that you can always e-mail Don’t forget that you can always e-mail an editor outlining your proposed paper an editor outlining your proposed paper (sending just the abstract is best) to see if (sending just the abstract is best) to see if they think your paper is suitable (if you they think your paper is suitable (if you have three possible journals, send the have three possible journals, send the outline/abstract to all three Editors!); they outline/abstract to all three Editors!); they are usually more than willing to offer are usually more than willing to offer advice and will often suggest an advice and will often suggest an alternative journal is they feel their journal alternative journal is they feel their journal is not the best one for your paper.”is not the best one for your paper.”

Query letter to editorQuery letter to editor

One of the best things you can do to One of the best things you can do to improve chances of acceptanceimprove chances of acceptance

Four responsesFour responses

““Send it in” – time pressureSend it in” – time pressure

Mini review with little problemsMini review with little problems

Negative responseNegative response

No responseNo response

Keep a record of your Keep a record of your publicationspublications

Some effective researchers use a Some effective researchers use a “research log” to: “research log” to: 1) Know when to send a reminder to the 1) Know when to send a reminder to the editor editor 2) Prevent resubmission of a rejected 2) Prevent resubmission of a rejected paper to the same journal and paper to the same journal and 3) Avoid multiple submission of several 3) Avoid multiple submission of several papers to the same journal within a short papers to the same journal within a short period of time. period of time.

Submission guidelines: Worth the Submission guidelines: Worth the troubletrouble

Following the Instructions to Authors Following the Instructions to Authors reduces the chances of the reduces the chances of the manuscript being rejected by the manuscript being rejected by the journal editors even before the journal editors even before the process for peer review.process for peer review.

Editors don’t like to see a paper that Editors don’t like to see a paper that has been correctly prepared for a has been correctly prepared for a competing journalcompeting journal

4%

9%

7%

8%

13%

2%

16%

7%7%

English Errors 27%

Faulty methodology

Inadequate references

Poor quality supporting figures

Outside the scope of journal

Not enough contribution to field

Authors did not follow manuscript instructions

Poor writing style and use of English

Title not representative of study

Subject of little novel interest or not generally applicable

Poorly written discussion

Reasons for major revision or rejection of Taiwanese journal papers

How to understand the Journal’s How to understand the Journal’s Instructions to AuthorsInstructions to Authors

The Instructions to Authors contain the The Instructions to Authors contain the journal's expectations about:journal's expectations about:

the type of articles accepted the type of articles accepted

the required format for each type of articlethe required format for each type of article

type of illustrations type of illustrations (photographs/tables/figures)(photographs/tables/figures)

languagelanguage

publishing charges (if any) publishing charges (if any)

any other instructions about the journal any other instructions about the journal

Topic of submissionTopic of submission

First article of new editorFirst article of new editor

Last article of the yearLast article of the year

Aims and ScopeAims and Scope

Types of articles acceptable to Types of articles acceptable to the journalthe journal

Letters to the Editor, Letters to the Editor,

short communications, short communications,

full-length research papers, full-length research papers,

review articlesreview articles

Pre-submission letter to the Pre-submission letter to the editoreditor

Required or not?Required or not?

English LevelEnglish Level

British or American EnglishBritish or American English

British vs US spellingBritish vs US spellingGenerally, American journals require US Generally, American journals require US spelling and British journals require British spelling and British journals require British spelling, but many accept either form spelling, but many accept either form as as long as the spelling used is consistentlong as the spelling used is consistent

Haematoma Haematoma vs vs hematomahematomaAnalysed vs analyzedAnalysed vs analyzedLabelling vs labelingLabelling vs labeling

Behaviour vs behaviorBehaviour vs behavior

Formatting style for the main textFormatting style for the main text Most journals set a limit on the Most journals set a limit on the number of wordsnumber of wordsnumber of pagesnumber of pages font sizefont size (10-, 11-, or 12-point size) (10-, 11-, or 12-point size) line spacingline spacing (usually double-spaced). (usually double-spaced). right marginright margin or or unjustifiedunjustified. . single column single column or or double column formatdouble column formatpage numberspage numbers Some journals such as Some journals such as NatureNature provide templates provide templates to be used for formatting the manuscript. to be used for formatting the manuscript.

The format for the title pageThe format for the title pageJournals differ in their requirement for the title Journals differ in their requirement for the title page. page. Most journals specify that the title page should be Most journals specify that the title page should be typed on a separate sheet of paper and should typed on a separate sheet of paper and should include the include the title of the article title of the article author’s name author’s name academic degrees academic degrees address and university or institute address and university or institute word count word count name of the person for correspondencename of the person for correspondence

The format for the The format for the abstractabstract

The journal specifies the The journal specifies the

number of wordsnumber of words permitted (usually permitted (usually from 250–350 words),from 250–350 words),

the the contentcontent expected in the abstract, expected in the abstract,

whether the IMRAD whether the IMRAD formatformat needs to needs to be followed, be followed,

whether it needs to be typed on a whether it needs to be typed on a separate sheet of paper.separate sheet of paper.

The number of The number of keywordskeywords required required

Keywords are required to help find of Keywords are required to help find of the article by search engines on the the article by search engines on the Internet. Internet.

Most journals specify the number of Most journals specify the number of keywords they require, ranging from keywords they require, ranging from 55 to to 1010 in number. They are usually in number. They are usually included after the abstract.included after the abstract.

The format for the referencesThe format for the references

The The stylestyle to be followed when to be followed when writing the references with examples writing the references with examples for: for:

cited papers cited papers

cited books cited books

cited book chapters cited book chapters

The format for The format for tablestables The Instructions specify the The Instructions specify the number of tables permittednumber of tables permitted the method to be followed for numberingthe method to be followed for numberingword count limit for the titles of tablesword count limit for the titles of tableswhether a whether a hard copyhard copy of the tables is required of the tables is required Most journals request that Most journals request that tables be numberedtables be numbered in the order in which they appearin the order in which they appear in the in the paper and that the position of the table in the paper and that the position of the table in the text be clearly mentioned. text be clearly mentioned.

The format for the figures and The format for the figures and photographsphotographs

number of figures and photographsnumber of figures and photographs. . black and whiteblack and white photographs or photographs or colorcolor The size of the figuresThe size of the figures, , captions captions and and numberingnumberingfile formatsfile formats accepted, accepted, publication chargespublication charges, , hard copyhard copy of figures and photographs is required of figures and photographs is required whether whether figuresfigures and and photographsphotographs should be should be embeddedembedded in the text file or submitted as in the text file or submitted as individual files, or embedded at the end of the individual files, or embedded at the end of the text file. text file. whether the photographs should be printed on whether the photographs should be printed on glossyglossy or or matt papermatt paper..

Instructions about Instructions about equations, equations, Units, and statisticsUnits, and statistics

Most journals provide instructions on Most journals provide instructions on math and equations in the text math and equations in the text

rules for writing Units (usually SI rules for writing Units (usually SI Units are recommended) Units are recommended)

guidelines on presenting statisticsguidelines on presenting statistics

Style guideStyle guide for symbols for symbols

Most journals specify styles to be Most journals specify styles to be used for: used for:

abbreviationsabbreviations and and

symbolssymbols

drugsdrugs

brand names of drugsbrand names of drugs

microbial namesmicrobial names

Method of submissionMethod of submission acceptable acceptable to the journal to the journal

Submission of the manuscript can be Submission of the manuscript can be on on paperpaper, on a , on a compact disccompact disc, or , or electronicallyelectronically. .

Manuscript file formatsManuscript file formats Commonly requested in MS Word or WordPerfect, Commonly requested in MS Word or WordPerfect, Some journals accept submissions in Some journals accept submissions in LaTexLaTex, , PDFPDF, , EPSEPS, , TextText, , PostscriptPostscript, or , or RTFRTF format. format. If a PDF document is accepted for publication, a If a PDF document is accepted for publication, a Word or WordPerfect document will be required. Word or WordPerfect document will be required. Some journals specify Some journals specify file sizesfile sizes (individual files (individual files usually should not exceed 1 KB) and usually should not exceed 1 KB) and file namingfile naming..These should be followed carefully, to avoid These should be followed carefully, to avoid delays in the review process or rejectiondelays in the review process or rejection

Type of Type of review process followedreview process followed

The journal usually mentions the The journal usually mentions the process followed for review of the process followed for review of the submitted manuscript. submitted manuscript.

If a double-blinded review is to be If a double-blinded review is to be carried out, authors are requested to carried out, authors are requested to ensure that their identities are not ensure that their identities are not revealed.revealed.

Publication chargesPublication charges

Some journals may charge for all the Some journals may charge for all the pages but others may publish a fixed pages but others may publish a fixed number of pages free and charge number of pages free and charge only for publishing any pages over only for publishing any pages over this number. this number.

Color photographs are charged for, Color photographs are charged for, as well as illustrations/figures as well as illustrations/figures exceeding the permitted number. exceeding the permitted number.

Cover letterCover letter requirments requirments

Journals such as JAMA, which provide Journals such as JAMA, which provide very comprehensive Instructions to very comprehensive Instructions to Authors, even specify what is Authors, even specify what is required in the cover letter required in the cover letter accompanying the manuscript.accompanying the manuscript.

Cover LetterCover Letter

Don’t send a letter saying little more Don’t send a letter saying little more thanthan “please find my manuscript “please find my manuscript attached”. attached”. Your paper does not look Your paper does not look importantimportant

The cover letter is your chance to talk The cover letter is your chance to talk to the editor of your target journal.to the editor of your target journal.

Explain to the editor why your findings Explain to the editor why your findings are important and why they should be are important and why they should be publishedpublished

Cover LetterCover LetterGeneral rules for cover letters:General rules for cover letters:Address to an editor by nameAddress to an editor by nameProvide your Provide your titletitle and and publication typepublication typeProvide a Provide a brief backgroundbrief background, , rationalerationale and and description of resultsdescription of resultsExplain the significance of your findings and why Explain the significance of your findings and why they would be of interest to the journal’s they would be of interest to the journal’s target target audienceaudienceCheck the journal’s instructions to ensure that all Check the journal’s instructions to ensure that all requirements have been complied withrequirements have been complied withProvide corresponding author detailsProvide corresponding author details

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