Submitting a manuscript to an unsuitable journal is one of the most common mistakes made by authors. So, what are the considerations in the process regarding in both of the journal’s scope and the journal’s Impact Factor?
Hi Khalid,
Great question.
You are absolutely correct that this is a very common mistake. I suspect that because of the influence that impact factor has had on funding decisions, promotions, etc., many authors look at impact factor first. One of the biggest mistakes that authors make is to choose a journal based on its reputation or impact factor without considering other factors such as the audience, scope, costs, and publishing time. There is nothing wrong with aiming high, but you need to consider the consequences. Submitting a manuscript to the wrong journal could waste valuable time for both you and the editor. Presenting great results to an audience that is not interested will not be of benefit. Presenting your results to an audience that will engage with your work and cite your work is far more valuable and should be the primary consideration when choosing your target journal. Yes, the journal’s impact factor or prestige may still be an important consideration, but the availability and increased acceptance of article-level metrics means that you can still get recognition for your work even in a journal with a lower impact factor.
I recommend that you ask yourself these important questions:
Who will benefit the most from the results you intend to publish?
Are the results and conclusions of general interest?
Would the results be of more interest to researchers in a particular field?
Where are researchers in your field publishing their work?
I go into more detail about this topic and preparing manuscripts for publication on my website. Do let me know if you have any more questions.
https://www.scienceeditorium.com/academy/courses/preparing-a-scientific-manuscript/
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