Choose a channel that is a good fit with your research topic
When publishing your research, you need to investigate which publication channels match the scope of your research. The best way to do this is to read up on the scope of different publication channels and look into what has been published in them previously.
Reaching your target audiences
You also need to define your target audience and how best to reach them. Good clues on where and how to reach your target audience can be found in the publications you use and refer to yourself.
Questions to reflect on
Some important questions to consider when choosing a publication channel based on your target audience:
- In which channels is research usually published in my research area and how do I want to publish my research?
- Do others in my field of research read what is published in this publication channel?
- Is this publication channel accessible in the databases where I usually search for information?
- Is it particularly important to reach professionals in my area of research? If so, how can I best reach them?
Status and impact as criteria
Your choice of publishing channel is often influenced by the status of the publication in its field. This choice is also influenced by the methods used to measure your contributions as a researcher.
Check the journal’s level in the Norwegian Register
Several faculties at Umeå University utilise a Norwegian register of quality publication channels when allocating funding to their departments. Often referred to as "Norska listan" in Swedish, it is a register that assesses journals as fulfilling certain quality criteria at different levels. It may therefore be important to check the level of the journal or the publisher.
Norwegian Register for Scientific Journals, Series and Publishers
Use citation-based metrics
Depending on the publication and qualification process in your area of research, it may be important for you to choose a journal with a relatively high citation rate. You can use citation-based metrics such as the Journal Impact Factor or CiteScore when choosing your publication channel.
Shortcuts to impact factor and journal ranking tools
Publish open access
When you publish open access, more people will be able to read and use your research results. Umeå University therefore recommends that you publish open access. Many funding bodies require projects they fund to publish their results open access.
Read more about publishing open access
Choose a reputable publisher
It is important that you choose quality-assured channels, wherever you choose to publish. You need to check that both the channel and the publisher operate in accordance with established peer-review and publication practices. You can use the guides below to review publishers and also conferences to attend:
Retain your rights
When you publish with a publisher, you will sign a publishing contract with them, which may affect your rights to disseminate and use your publication. So before submitting your manuscript, check how the publisher intends to deal with your rights.
Read more about copyright in publishing
Linking publications to underlying data
When you publish your research results, you often need to describe how and where you are making the underlying research data available. Check the data availability statement (DAS) requirements of the publishing channel and how you can meet their expectations concerning the availability of the research data. Be sure to choose an appropriate repository so that the data is searchable when you make it available.
More information about making your data available
Guidance and support
The Library has produced a guide on things to consider before submitting your manuscript to a publication channel. You can also contact the Library directly if you have questions about publishing.
