How to choose a journal for your first research paper
Choosing the right journal can be the difference between a quick acceptance and months of rejections. Here is a simple process that works for a first paper in any field.
Step 1: Look at your own reference list
The journals you cite most often are usually a good match: they publish work like yours and their readers care about your topic. Write down five to ten candidates.
Step 2: Check the scope
Read each journal's "Aims and scope" page. Then read the titles of the last few issues. Would your paper fit naturally among them? If not, cross the journal off.
Step 3: Think about your audience
- Is your paper for specialists in a narrow field, or for a broad audience?
- Is it for researchers in your country or region (for example a national medical journal) or for an international readership?
A focused journal read by exactly the right people can be more useful than a famous general one.
Step 4: Check indexing and reputation
- Is the journal indexed where people in your field search — for example PubMed for medicine, or the major citation databases?
- Is it a member of recognised publishing organisations, and listed in the DOAJ if it is open access?
- Ask senior colleagues and your librarian what they think of it.
Step 5: Compare practical details
| Question | Where to find it |
|---|---|
| Does it charge a publication fee (APC)? Are there waivers for your country? | "Author guidelines" or "Fees" page |
| How long from submission to decision? | Journal website, or recent papers' received/accepted dates |
| Is it open access? | Journal website — see Open access explained |
| Word limit, figure limit, reference style | "Instructions for authors" |
| Does it accept preprints? | Editorial policies page |
Step 6: Avoid predatory journals
If a journal emailed you out of the blue, promises acceptance in days, or hides its fees, stop and check. Use our checklist for spotting predatory journals.
Step 7: Make a ranked list
Rank your three best options. Submit to the first; if it is rejected, use the reviewers' comments to improve the paper before sending it to the next. Rejection is normal — even excellent papers are often rejected once or twice.
Bonus: see where research in your field is published
ResearchBoard shows which journals publish the most papers every day and which fields are growing. See Which journals publish the most papers? and research fields.