Researchers spend countless hours conducting experiments and documenting their findings. As part of their research journey, they share these results with their peers by publishing articles in peer-reviewed journals. In the ever-evolving world of research, journals play a key role in disseminating cutting-edge knowledge about recent discoveries and inventions. Not all journals are created equal. Prospective authors need to identify the journal type best suited to their publishing needs.
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Exploring Various Journals Types
Although journals can be peer-reviewed or non-peer-reviewed, the primary focus of this blog will be on peer-reviewed journals specifically designed to meet the diverse needs of researchers across disciplines.
Even within the genre of peer-reviewed journals, there are plenty of options. They can broadly be categorized into various types based on how researchers can access or publish. Whereas the first half of this blog post will identify various established journal types, the second half will predominantly cover journal types based on the associated business model.
Journals Publishing Original Research Articles
These journals publish peer-reviewed articles based on original research. Authors should note that several journals primarily focusing on publishing original research articles also consider other article types such as case studies and review articles for publication. Journals falling under this category are considered the backbone of scientific publishing. They cater to certain specific disciplines or multidisciplinary/interdisciplinary research.
Example: Nature
Journals Publishing Review Articles
Journals belonging to this subset focus exclusively on publishing review articles that offer their target readership a comprehensive summary of the research published on a particular topic or in a particular area of research. Reviews published in these journals and typically peer-reviewed and they offer deep insights to both early-stage researchers and established principal investigators. They are widely read and cited by the research community.
Example: Nature Reviews Chemistry
Journals Publishing Case Studies
The most popular peer-reviewed journals belonging to this category publish articles from the field of medicine. They discuss unique, rare, or intricate medical cases that offer valuable insights to practicing clinicians. Case studies are also published in other disciplines of research such as management and engineering.
Example: BMJ Case Reports
Specialty Journals
By definition, these peer-reviewed journals cater to a significantly narrowed down or niche area of research (e.g., chemical biology, cardiology, and neurology). They are widely read by specialized audiences from various areas of research.
Example: Nature Chemical Biology
Multidisciplinary/Interdisciplinary Journals
These peer-reviewed journals publish research that transcends all known discipline-specific boundaries. Articles published in these journals aim to address burning problems by integrating cutting-edge knowledge from across disciplines. They foster research collaboration and inclusivity—prioritization of scientific rigor over traditional measures of perceived impact or novelty.
Example: Scientific Reports
Journals Publishing Conference Proceedings
These typically peer-reviewed journals offer a platform for publishing research presented at various research conferences. They usually publish conference papers, posters, and abstracts.
Example: Proceedings of IEEE International Conference on Computer Vision
Let us now see how all of the aforementioned journals can be characterized further based on the associated business model.
Open Access (OA) Journals
OA journals provide immediate online access to articles without charging any fees for such access. They typically opt for article-processing charges (APCs), usually paid by authors or their affiliated research organizations. However, Springer Nature journals published by Cureus Journals do not have any associated APCs. They only charge editing fees when manuscripts require a certain degree of refinement in language and/or formatting. Articles published in OA journals can be freely viewed, downloaded, and shared.
Various other subcategories of OA exist. For instance, journals publishing under the gold OA model require APCs to cover publication costs, although readers access the content for free. Authors opting for green OA, on the other hand, can self-archive a version of their published papers in various OA repositories. On a related note, authors publishing under diamond or platinum OA do not need any APC payment. Publishing costs are covered by research organizations, grants, non-profit organizations, societies, etc. One more category (delayed OA) involves OA publishing after an initial embargo period. According to publishing experts, bronze OA is not usually considered to be a true form of OA as it is associated with certain restrictions.
Example: Cureus Journal of Business and Economics
Paywalled (Subscription-Based) Journals
Considered the most traditional platforms for publishing research, these journals work on a subscription model. Accordingly, researchers or their respective organizations are asked to pay a subscription or per-article fee to access published research. These journals are usually more selective and prioritize novelty and perceived impact over inclusivity. Many paywalled journals (e.g., Nature Methods) now offer OA options.
Hybrid Journals
Although these journals usually operate on a subscription-based model, they allow authors to pay APCs to make specific articles openly accessible to the public.
Example: Current Psychology
Transformative Journals
They are similar to hybrid journals in offering optional OA to authors. However, unlike hybrid journals, they proactively support transitioning to OA.
Example: Sports Engineering
Although not a distinct category, certain journals that violate well-established codes of conduct in the publishing industry are termed “predatory journals.” Journals may be labeled as “predatory” if they meet one or more of the following criteria:
- Peer review is non-existent.
- Editorial board members are fictitious or included without their explicit consent.
- Revenue generation and business growth are prioritized over article quality.
- Journal metrics and indexing claims are misleading or fabricated.
- Partnerships, associations, and/or memberships are falsely claimed.
- Publication timelines are ridiculously short.
- International Standard Serial Numbers (ISSNs) are fake.
- Rigorous quality checks, such as plagiarism screening, are absent.
- Lack of meaningful editorial and/or publishing policies (e.g., policies on article retraction).
Selecting a platform to publish research requires a lot of consideration and strategic planning. Opting for the right journal can significantly affect the visibility and reception of your scholarly work within the research community. Researchers should plan diligently and select an appropriate journal that aligns with their overall publishing objectives.
FAQs
1. What are the different types of research journals?
There are various types of research journals, including academic journals, peer-reviewed journals, open-access journals, trade journals, and professional journals.
2. What is the difference between academic and peer-reviewed journals?
Academic journals publish scholarly articles, while peer-reviewed journals undergo rigorous evaluation by experts before publication, ensuring credibility and quality.
3. What are open-access journals?
Open-access journals provide free access to research articles, allowing anyone to read, download, and share them without subscription fees.
4. What are trade journals?
Trade journals focus on industry-specific news, trends, and professional insights rather than academic research, catering to practitioners and professionals.
5. How do I know if a journal is peer-reviewed?
You can check a journal’s website for peer-review policies or search in databases like Scopus, PubMed, or Web of Science for indexing and review details.
6. Are all research journals indexed in databases like Scopus or Web of Science?
No, only selected journals meeting specific quality and impact criteria are indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, or other recognized databases.
7. What are hybrid journals?
Hybrid journals offer both subscription-based and open-access publishing options, allowing authors to choose how their research is shared.
8. What is the impact factor of a journal?
The impact factor measures the average number of citations received per article published in a journal, indicating its influence in the academic community.
9. What are predatory journals?
Predatory journals charge publication fees without proper peer review, publishing low-quality or fraudulent research. Always verify a journal’s legitimacy before submission.
10. How can I choose the right journal for my research?
Consider factors like scope, impact factor, indexing, peer-review process, and audience when selecting a journal to publish your research.
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