Every scientist eventually faces the question of choosing a journal for publishing their first scientific article. What journals exist? What criteria should be considered first? We have prepared a step-by-step guide for finding the right scientific journal.
Types of Scientific Journals in Indonesia
A successful scientific career is impossible without publications in national and international journals. Articles in scientific journals are necessary for obtaining academic titles, degrees, funding, and grants, joining editorial boards, and validating dissertations.
Indonesian legislation specifies the number of publications and the journals required to achieve certain scientific goals. The Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education of the Republic of Indonesia's Regulation No. 20 of 2017 categorizes scientific journals into five types:
- National journal
- Accredited national journal
- National journal equivalent to accredited national journals
- International journal
- Authoritative international journal
The regulation outlines the procedure for awarding academic titles and providing additional funding to researchers. You can view the regulation on the official website.
Algorithm for Choosing a Journal for Publishing a Scientific Article
Choosing a scientific journal is a crucial question for everyone who needs to publish an article. What should a scientist pay attention to when searching for a publisher? We have prepared a simple algorithm to help you make the right choice:
- National/International: Determine whether a national journal is suitable for publication or if an international journal is necessary.
- Journal Theme: The journal's theme should match the article's topic. Usually, journals publish articles in specific scientific fields. Analyze previously published works to ensure there is no overlap with your research theme.
- Impact Factor and Citation Index: These are also important when choosing a journal. The more cited the journal's articles are, the more prestigious the publication.
- Publication Formatting Rules: Each journal has its own requirements for writing an article. Failure to comply may lead to rejection.
- Review Time: This is another important criterion. Editors usually specify the review timeframe. If you need an urgent publication, ensure the specified timeline fits your needs.
- Publication Cost: Costs range from tens to hundreds of dollars. The more influential the journal and the more rigorous the review process, the higher the publication cost. Assess your financial capabilities and ensure you can afford the publication.
- Indexing Platform: The most popular choice for researchers is placing their work in international databases like Scopus and Web of Science. There are other databases, and the choice depends on the specific needs of the researcher.
How to Check Journal Indexing in Scopus and Web of Science?
With the increase in reputable international publishers, the number of unscrupulous journals claiming their achievements is also rising. The internet is full of offers to quickly and cheaply publish scientific articles in Scopus and Web of Science databases. Before agreeing to a tempting offer, check the company offering publication services and the journals themselves.
If you can check an organization through legal registration, Google reviews, the company website, and other parameters, it is somewhat more complicated with scientific journals.
Here's how to check a journal's indexing in two global databases (DB) – Scopus and Web of Science:
Scopus
You can find information about all journals indexed in the Scopus DB on the Scopus Preview page. The features offered by this webpage include:
- Searching by journal title, publisher, or ISSN
- Viewing sources by scientific fields or alphabetically
- Downloading the complete list of Scopus sources
- Finding out the period a journal has been indexed in Scopus
- Checking publisher information
- Knowing the ISSN of the scientific journal
- Specifying the scientific field of the indexed journal
- Finding out the CiteScore citation rate by year
- Knowing the year the journal started being indexed in Scopus
Web of Science
All necessary data about journals indexed in the Web of Science DB can be found in the journal list on the Clarivate Analytics website. You can search in various ways:
- By keyword
- By journal title
- By ISSN
If the publisher is indeed indexed in WoS, you will see information about the journal, including its title, ISSN, name and address, and the Web of Science database in which the publisher is included. Additionally, the website provides a full list of journals, categories, and a list of all journals that have changed their names in the last 12 months.
If you need help choosing a journal that fits your scientific goals, the "Scientific Publications" team is ready to assist you through all the stages of publishing in the most reputable international journals.
