There are several methods for searching for journals that might be the potential new home for your research work. Below are the top five most common ways of finding relevant journals.

1. Keyword search

Just as you might use relevant keyword searches when conducting your research, you can also use broader keyword searches to find journals that publish research in your research areas. More targeted keyword searches might turn up specific articles in journals that could also be relevant for you. Try different combinations and keep a list of the most relevant results.

2. Citation search

Take a look at your list of sources and citations. What journals were the articles you referenced published in? Take a closer look at those journals and read past issues to evaluate if they might also be the right place for your research.

3. Repository search

There are quite a number of journal repositories out there that are excellent discovery tools. Look at repositories such as Web of Science or the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) and search by subject area.

4. Manuscript matcher

The Manuscript Matcher tool from Web of Science can help you find highly relevant journal matches for your current work. Submit the title and abstract of your article and the tool will match it with journals that have indexed similar content in their database.

5. Peer feedback

Your peers are a wealth of knowledge, in more way than one: Ask your colleagues and network, especially those that work in the same disciplines as you, about where they publish. Also make sure to ask them about their experience with publishing in these journals and if they have any recommendations or tips for you.

Now that you have created a shortlist of the journals to which you could potentially submit, consider the following evaluative criteria to see if the journal is legitimate and actually a good fit for your work.

Is your article within the scope of the journal?

Each journal should provide information on their specific aims and scope, i.e. what exactly they publish. Review the aims and scope of each of the journals carefully to ensure that the topic of your research is also covered by the journal.

Does the journal accept your article type?

There are many different ways in which you can present and publish research findings. Check the journal’s guidelines to verify that they accept the type of article you are planning to submit. When in doubt, you can always contact the journal editors to clarify.

Is the journal compliant with your funding?

Research funding organizations and institutions often have specific publication requirements. For example, some grants may only allow you to publish in an open access journal. Check with your group or institution to confirm if there are any important requirements you need to consider when selecting a journal.

Is the journal open access?

You might want to consider publishing your journal in open access so that it can reach a larger readership. If that’s the case, check the open access options of the journals you have selected and understand what that means for you in terms of sharing and costs.

Is there a publication charge?

On that note, if you are publishing open access, you may be required to pay an Article Processing Charge (APC). In many cases your institution might provide funding to support open access publishing, so check with your librarian to see what your options are. Be aware that APC costs can vary between journals and publishers.

Is the journal legitimate?

Sadly, the number of predatory journals is growing, so it’s important to stay vigilant and to check that the journal you are submitting to is legitimate. Use the Think. Check. Submit. website to verify the journal’s credentials. Go through every point on their checklist (available in most languages) before submitting your work.