Skip to Main Content

Knowledge Mobilization

What publishing method is right for you? It may be a combination of several knowledge mobilization methods like social media and academic journals. Use the below reflection exercise to help you to make an informed decision on where to publish:

Ask Yourself...

  • Define your audience: Who is your target audience? Are you trying to reach a specific field of study? - Define your audience to help you to select publishers.
  • Find leading publishers: What are the prominent journals and publishers in your profession? Are they publishing research on similar topics? - Use Sheridan Library's eJournal List to locate similar research, and then browse the publication.
  • Examine the publishers: What is the scope of the publisher? Is there a peer-review process? - Visit the publisher's website to review the aim and scope.
  • Limitations and Restrictions: Do the publishers have fees or copyright restrictions?
  • Consider access: Is the publisher Open Access? Does this matter to you?

*Adapted from McMaster University's site titled "Graduate Research Guide". Please visit their guide for more information. 

Considerations for Publishing in Academic Journals

Use free journal matching tools: Tools developed by publishers will suggest journals drawn from their family of publications. However, the general journal selection tools listed below cover a broad range of titles across publishers. Due to their breadth, free journal selection tools may not include details about licenses, whether there are article processing fees, article specifications such as length and citation format, and publishing process. Some journal selection tools may also offer fee-based services such as editorial advice and abstract development supports.

Journal publishers prioritize new and unique research studies that have not been published elsewhere. Depending on the discipline and a journal's mission or scope, a journal may not accept a manuscript that has been shared more widely such as: 

  • An article based on a thesis or capstone project that has been shared online. If you are planning to publish your work in a journal and have been invited to share it in SOURCE, inform the SOURCE team so we can discuss options to protect your chance of getting published (e.g., delaying the release date of your work in SOURCE). 
  • An article based on a published conference presentation or paper. Some journals may consider this to be previously published work and reject it on this basis. 
  • An article previously published in another journal. 

You can review a journal's author guidelines on submission of previously shared material and contact the publisher for clarification. 

Submit your work to one journal at a time. If your work is rejected by a journal, you can submit it to a different journal. Publishers do not accept submissions under consideration by other publishers at the same time since they don't want to invest their time and work if a work may be published elsewhere. 

*Adapted from UBC Library's site titled "Publishing a Journal Article." Visit their guide for more information on journal publishers' requirements. 

Connect with us