Thinking of journals as “low tier” or “high tier” is distracting from what you actually need to do, which is good work. Do your work as best you can, and publish in the fanciest journal that will accept your papers. Trying to over-optimize will lead to a lot of wasted time and lost productivity, which might end up hurting your chances for future jobs. And you also don’t want to give the impression that you’re more interested in the journal you publish in than in the work you do.
The main difference between a “high tier” journal and a “lower tier” one is that the high tier selects papers that have more surprising results, and are more likely to be wrong. You read that right — results in “fancy” journals such as Nature or Science are pretty often wrong, which makes sense given that they are “groundbreaking”. When doing groundbreaking work, it’s likely you’ll make a lot of mistakes; that’s the price you pay for going too far off the beaten path. Results that make it to more average journals are more mundane, but for that reason it’s also easier to make them more rigorous, and thus it’s less likely they’re wrong.
Remember also that no journal has dedicated reviewers. The people reviewing your work will be essentially the same, whether in Nature (impact factor >30) or in PLOS (impact factor about 3). So a fancy journal selects for how amazing your work sounds more than for how good it is.
That said, of course you want to stay away from the creepy “journals” that invite you to publish your work in them without getting your name right or having any idea what your work is about. It’s probably better to not publish at all than publish there. In some fields — like theoretical physics and most of math — people only really care about the results being available on a preprint server like the arXiv and don’t care where the work ends up being published. This is starting to become more popular in some areas of biology, too, with the bioRxiv (preprint server for Biology).
Another common sense thing to do is to first try publishing your work in a journal that’s just a bit fancier than you think your results are. If they reject your paper, go down the ladder. So if you’ve found a nice, new result that seems somewhat surprising, it’s worth considering submitting it to Nature or Science (or whatever the fancy journal of choice is in your field), just in case they like it. But if your work is a rather obvious extension of existing work, you might be better off heading for a more specialized journal that puts less emphasis on groundbreaking results.
Hicham Abdelouafi
There are several factors to consider when deciding whether to publish in a low-tier journal as a PhD student:
Pros:
- Get Published Faster: Lower-tier journals often have faster review times and publication cycles. This can be beneficial for PhD students who need publications to fulfill degree requirements or boost their CV for job applications.
- Less Competitive: Low-tier journals may be less competitive than top-tier publications, making it easier for a PhD student to get their work accepted. This can be particularly encouraging for new researchers.
- Gain Publishing Experience: The process of writing, submitting, and revising a manuscript is valuable for any researcher. Publishing in any journal can help you develop these skills.
Cons:
- Limited Visibility and Impact: Low-tier journals typically have lower readership and citation rates compared to top-tier journals. This means your research may reach a smaller audience and have less influence on the field.
- Potential Damage to Reputation: Publications in some low-tier journals might reflect poorly on your academic credibility. Carefully research the reputation of the journal before submitting.
- Detracts from Job Prospects: While some publications are better than none, some employers, particularly in prestigious academic institutions, might prioritize candidates with publications in high-impact journals.
Alternative Strategies
- Aim High, But Have a Backup Plan: Start by targeting high-impact journals in your field. Be prepared for potential rejections and have lower-tier options in mind if needed.
- Conferences and Presentations: Presenting your research at conferences can be a valuable way to disseminate your findings and gain recognition, while also building your network.
- Focus on Quality Research: Ultimately, the quality of your research is most important. Strong research, even if published in a lower-tier journal, will attract attention and citations.
Making the Decision:
The decision to publish in a low-tier journal should be made on a case-by-case basis. Consider the following factors:
- Quality of the Journal: Research the journal's reputation, editorial board, and past publications.
- Importance of Publication: How important is it for you to get published quickly?
- Strength of Your Research: Is your research strong enough to be competitive in a top-tier journal?
General Advice:
- Discuss with your advisor: Seek guidance from your PhD advisor regarding publication strategies and appropriate journals for your field.
- Prioritize Quality: Always aim for reputable journals that uphold rigorous peer-review processes.
- Build a Strong Publication Portfolio: Ideally, your PhD research should culminate in publications in a variety of journals, high-tier and potentially lower-tier depending on the specific project.
It depends on several factors as follows:
The most important factor is the quality of the research. If the research is sound and contributes to the field, it should be published regardless of the journal's tier.
High-tier journals have a reputation for publishing high-quality research and often have a higher impact factor. Publishing in such journals can enhance a student's academic profile.
But, some low-tier journals may be more specialized and cater to a niche audience that is highly relevant to the research topic. In such cases, publishing in a low-tier journal can be beneficial for reaching the right audience. If the research findings are timely and need to be disseminated quickly, a low-tier journal with a faster review process might be a better choice. And low-tier journals may offer open access options, which can increase the visibility and accessibility of the research.