Targeting and Selecting Targeting and Selecting the Appropriate the Appropriate Publication OutletPublication Outlet

Diane L. SchallertDiane L. SchallertThe University of Texas at AustinThe University of Texas at Austinwith acknowledgement of P. Karen Murphy with acknowledgement of P. Karen Murphy of the Pennsylvania State University for help on slide of the Pennsylvania State University for help on slide contentcontent

How important is this How important is this decision?decision?

What are the career benefits for What are the career benefits for publishing in a particular journal?publishing in a particular journal?

How important is journal ranking in How important is journal ranking in your tenure and promotion process?your tenure and promotion process?

Will the data have less impact if they Will the data have less impact if they take a long time to publish?take a long time to publish?

How long should you take in deciding How long should you take in deciding on the appropriate journal?on the appropriate journal?

Identifying the Identifying the PossibilitiesPossibilities

Scan the journals in your literature Scan the journals in your literature review or reference listreview or reference list

Do a search either electronic or Do a search either electronic or actual thumbing through current actual thumbing through current hardcopieshardcopies

Reference Guides:Reference Guides:Journal Citation ReportsUlrich’s Periodicals DirectoryDirectory of Open Access JournalsCabell’s Directory

Selecting Among the Selecting Among the Possibilities: A ModelPossibilities: A Model

(Knight & Steinbach, 2008)

Factor 1: Likelihood of Factor 1: Likelihood of Timely AcceptanceTimely Acceptance

1A. Topic centrality1A. Topic centrality

1B. Methodological alignment1B. Methodological alignment

1C. Harmony between your 1C. Harmony between your manuscript and a journalmanuscript and a journal

1A. Topic Centrality1A. Topic Centrality Has the journal published articles on the Has the journal published articles on the

same subject as your manuscript?same subject as your manuscript?

If not, has the journal at least published If not, has the journal at least published articles on the topics that serve as your articles on the topics that serve as your theoretical basis?theoretical basis?

Is your manuscript consistent with the Is your manuscript consistent with the journal’s scope, aim, and editorial journal’s scope, aim, and editorial statements?statements? AERJAERJ: Standards for Reporting on Empirical : Standards for Reporting on Empirical

Social Science Research in AERA PublicationsSocial Science Research in AERA Publications

Aim and Scope: e.g., AERJAim and Scope: e.g., AERJThe The American Educational Research JournalAmerican Educational Research Journal has as its purpose to carry original empirical and theoretical has as its purpose to carry original empirical and theoretical

studies and analyses in education. The editors seek to publish articles from a wide variety of academic studies and analyses in education. The editors seek to publish articles from a wide variety of academic disciplines and substantive fields; they are looking for clear and significant contributions to the disciplines and substantive fields; they are looking for clear and significant contributions to the understanding and/or improvement of educational processes and outcomes. Manuscripts not understanding and/or improvement of educational processes and outcomes. Manuscripts not appropriate for submission to this journal include essays, reviews, course evaluations, and brief reports appropriate for submission to this journal include essays, reviews, course evaluations, and brief reports of studies to address a narrow question.of studies to address a narrow question.

The The Social and Institutional AnalysisSocial and Institutional Analysis section of section of AERJAERJ (AERJ-SIA)(AERJ-SIA) publishes scholarly research that publishes scholarly research that addresses significant political, cultural, social, economic, and organizational issues in education. This addresses significant political, cultural, social, economic, and organizational issues in education. This section publishes research analyzing the broader contextual and organizational factors affecting section publishes research analyzing the broader contextual and organizational factors affecting teaching and learning, the links between those factors and the nature and processes of schooling, and teaching and learning, the links between those factors and the nature and processes of schooling, and the ways that such "external" domains are conceptualized in research, policy, and practice. The section the ways that such "external" domains are conceptualized in research, policy, and practice. The section invites manuscripts that advance the theoretical understandings of the social and institutional contexts invites manuscripts that advance the theoretical understandings of the social and institutional contexts of education and that encompass the diverse communities of schooling and educational research to of education and that encompass the diverse communities of schooling and educational research to achieve social justice in education. The Social and Institutional Analysis section welcomes research achieve social justice in education. The Social and Institutional Analysis section welcomes research across a wide range of methodological paradigms, including ethnographic, historical, narrative, legal, across a wide range of methodological paradigms, including ethnographic, historical, narrative, legal, experimental/quantitative, critical, and interpretive approaches; the section also invites studies that experimental/quantitative, critical, and interpretive approaches; the section also invites studies that make the nature and uses of educational research itself the subject of social and cultural inquiry.make the nature and uses of educational research itself the subject of social and cultural inquiry.

The The Teaching, Learning, and Human DevelopmentTeaching, Learning, and Human Development section of section of AERJ (AERJ-TLHD)AERJ (AERJ-TLHD) publishes research publishes research articles that explore the processes and outcomes of teaching, learning, and human development at all articles that explore the processes and outcomes of teaching, learning, and human development at all educational levels and in both formal and informal settings. This section also welcomes policy educational levels and in both formal and informal settings. This section also welcomes policy research related to teaching, learning, and learning to teach. It publishes articles that represent a wide research related to teaching, learning, and learning to teach. It publishes articles that represent a wide range of academic disciplines and use a variety of research methods.range of academic disciplines and use a variety of research methods.

1B. Methodological 1B. Methodological AlignmentAlignment

Does your manuscript conform to the Does your manuscript conform to the methodological predilections of the methodological predilections of the journal journal (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, multiple (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, multiple

experiments, review)?experiments, review)?

Has the journal published articles using Has the journal published articles using your manuscript’s methodology before?your manuscript’s methodology before?

Has the journal published Has the journal published methodological guidelines and have you methodological guidelines and have you followed them?followed them?

Methodology: e.g., JXE Methodology: e.g., JXE GuidelinesGuidelines

In consideration of contemporary thinking about In consideration of contemporary thinking about statistical significance tests, reflected in the 1993 statistical significance tests, reflected in the 1993 JXE theme issue Guidelines for Contributors 83(Vol. JXE theme issue Guidelines for Contributors 83(Vol. 61, No. 4), authors are encouraged to use the phrase 61, No. 4), authors are encouraged to use the phrase “statistical significance” rather than only “statistical significance” rather than only “significance” whenever referring to the results of “significance” whenever referring to the results of inferential tests. Furthermore, authors are required inferential tests. Furthermore, authors are required to report and interpret magnitude-of-effect measures to report and interpret magnitude-of-effect measures in conjunction with every p-value that is reported in conjunction with every p-value that is reported (see the Snyder & Lawson article in the 1993 [Vol. (see the Snyder & Lawson article in the 1993 [Vol. 61, No. 4] JXE theme issue on statistical 61, No. 4] JXE theme issue on statistical significance testing). significance testing).

1C. Harmony between 1C. Harmony between your Manuscript and the your Manuscript and the

JournalJournal Is the manuscript consistent with Is the manuscript consistent with

the disciplinary focus of the the disciplinary focus of the journal?journal?

How many times is the journal cited How many times is the journal cited in your manuscript?in your manuscript?

Is the typical time from submission Is the typical time from submission to publication sufficiently short for to publication sufficiently short for your needs? your needs? Review Lags, Revision lags, Review Lags, Revision lags,

Copyediting lags, and BacklogsCopyediting lags, and Backlogs

Determining Time to Determining Time to PublicationPublication

Time to Publication = Review Cycle Time Delay + Time to Publication = Review Cycle Time Delay + Publication Time DelayPublication Time Delay

Review Cycle Time Delay = f (x, y, z)Review Cycle Time Delay = f (x, y, z)Where Where

x = anticipated average review timex = anticipated average review timey = anticipated number of review y = anticipated number of review

cyclescyclesz = your ability to address the z = your ability to address the

feedbackfeedback

Publication Time Delay = g (p, q)Publication Time Delay = g (p, q)Where Where

p = publisher’s processing time once p = publisher’s processing time once manuscript is manuscript is complete complete

q = backlog of finished articles q = backlog of finished articles awaiting publicationawaiting publication

More on Harmony…More on Harmony… What is the journal’s acceptance rate? If it is What is the journal’s acceptance rate? If it is

low, is the manuscript appropriate for an low, is the manuscript appropriate for an announced theme issue where acceptance announced theme issue where acceptance might be higher?might be higher? Acceptance rate/rejection rate is a measure of the Acceptance rate/rejection rate is a measure of the

journal’s competitiveness (see Cabell’s Directory)journal’s competitiveness (see Cabell’s Directory)

Does your manuscript conform to the Does your manuscript conform to the Instructions to AuthorsInstructions to Authors (e.g., prose, length, (e.g., prose, length, tables, figures, references)?tables, figures, references)?

Does manuscript target audience match that Does manuscript target audience match that of the journal (e.g., national or international)?of the journal (e.g., national or international)?

Harmony Answers: Harmony Answers: A Few Good SourcesA Few Good Sources

Impressions from colleaguesImpressions from colleagues

Cabell’s Directory

Journal editor, editorial board Journal editor, editorial board members, or managing editormembers, or managing editor

Journal and/or its web pageJournal and/or its web page

Factor 2: Predicted Factor 2: Predicted Impact of the Published Impact of the Published

ArticleArticleThe manuscript’s topic and The manuscript’s topic and findings and author(s) (YOU)findings and author(s) (YOU)

Journal qualityJournal quality

Readership and/or availabilityReadership and/or availability

……and, of course, timeliness in and, of course, timeliness in publicationpublication

2A. Manuscript itself2A. Manuscript itself

Is the topic timely?Is the topic timely?

Are the findings interesting? Can Are the findings interesting? Can they be made interesting?they be made interesting?

Is it well-written?Is it well-written?

What cachet do the authors bring?What cachet do the authors bring?

2B. Journal Quality2B. Journal Quality

Is the journal peer-reviewed?Is the journal peer-reviewed?

Are the journal’s editor, reviewers, Are the journal’s editor, reviewers, and publisher academically and publisher academically respected?respected?

Is the journal ranked or rated by your Is the journal ranked or rated by your institution?institution?

What is the journal’s impact factor What is the journal’s impact factor (e.g., ISI Journal Citation Reports or (e.g., ISI Journal Citation Reports or SCOPUS)?SCOPUS)?

Impact FactorImpact FactorThe impact factor of a journal is calculated The impact factor of a journal is calculated based on a two-year period. It is the average based on a two-year period. It is the average number of citations in a year to all papers number of citations in a year to all papers published in a journal during the two preceding published in a journal during the two preceding years.years.

2011 Journal Impact = A/ B2011 Journal Impact = A/ B

AA = the number of times articles published in 2009-2010 = the number of times articles published in 2009-2010 were cited in indexed journals during 2011were cited in indexed journals during 2011

BB = the number of "citable items" (usually articles, = the number of "citable items" (usually articles, reviews, proceedings or notes; not editorials and reviews, proceedings or notes; not editorials and letters-to-the-Editor) published in 2009-2010letters-to-the-Editor) published in 2009-2010

A convenient way of thinking about it is that a A convenient way of thinking about it is that a journal that is cited once, on average, for each journal that is cited once, on average, for each article published has an IF of 1 in the article published has an IF of 1 in the expression above.expression above.

2C. Readership and 2C. Readership and AvailabilityAvailability

What is the journal’s circulation (e.g., What is the journal’s circulation (e.g., regional, national, or international)?regional, national, or international)?

Is the journal available through the Is the journal available through the Internet or indexed electronically Internet or indexed electronically (e.g., PsychInfo)? (e.g., PsychInfo)?

Is it an SSCI journal?Is it an SSCI journal?

Is the journal associated with a Is the journal associated with a society or organization (e.g., AERA) society or organization (e.g., AERA) that you value?that you value?

If all else fails…If all else fails…

Consider alternate publicationsAnnals of Improbable Research (AIR)

“a bi-monthly magazine devoted to scientific humor, in the form of a satirical take on the standard academic journal.”

If all else fails…If all else fails…

Consider alternate publicationsAnnals of Improbable Research (AIR)Journal of Irreproducible Results (JIR)

“is a magazine of science humor…it contains a unique mix of jokes, satire of scientific practice, science cartoons, and discussion of funny but real research.”

If all else fails…If all else fails…Consider alternate publications

Annals of Improbable Research (AIR)Journal of Irreproducible Results (JIR)

Journal of Universal Rejection (JofUR)“The founding principle of JofUR is rejection.

Universal rejection. That is to say, all submissions, regardless of quality, will be rejected. [Nevertheless,] here are a number of reasons you may choose to submit to JofUR”

(No anxiety about whether it will get accepted, no page fees, you can claim you’ve submitted to the most prestigious journal in terms of acceptance rate, you retain complete rights to your work and may submit to another journal even before our review is complete, decisions are often rendered

within hours of submission.)

ReferencesReferences

Impact factor. (2009, March 31). In Impact factor. (2009, March 31). In Wikipedia, The Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 01:43, April 1, 2009, Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 01:43, April 1, 2009, fromfrom http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Impact_factor&oldid=280898895

Knight, L. V., & Steinbach, T. A. (2008). Selecting Knight, L. V., & Steinbach, T. A. (2008). Selecting an appropriate publication outlet: A comprehensive an appropriate publication outlet: A comprehensive model of journal selection criteria for researchers model of journal selection criteria for researchers in a broad range of academic disciplines. in a broad range of academic disciplines. International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 3International Journal of Doctoral Studies, 3, 59-79., 59-79.

Sarli, B. (2008). Sarli, B. (2008). Preparing for publicationPreparing for publication. Bernard . Bernard Becker Medical Library: Washington University Becker Medical Library: Washington University School of Medicine.School of Medicine.