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Anatomy of a Scholarly Article

TIP: When possible, keep your research question(s) in mind when reading scholarly articles. It will help you to focus your reading.

Title : Generally are straightforward and describe what the article is about. Titles often include relevant key words.

Abstract : A summary of the author(s)'s research findings and tells what to expect when you read the full article. It is often a good idea to read the abstract first, in order to determine if you should even bother reading the whole article.

Discussion and Conclusion : Read these after the Abstract (even though they come at the end of the article). These sections can help you see if this article will meet your research needs. If you don’t think that it will, set it aside.

Introduction : Describes the topic or problem researched. The authors will present the thesis of their argument or the goal of their research.

Literature Review : May be included in the introduction or as its own separate section. Here you see where the author(s) enter the conversation on this topic. That is to say, what related research has come before, and how do they hope to advance the discussion with their current research?

Methods : This section explains how the study worked. In this section, you often learn who and how many participated in the study and what they were asked to do. You will need to think critically about the methods and whether or not they make sense given the research question.

Results : Here you will often find numbers and tables. If you aren't an expert at statistics this section may be difficult to grasp. However you should attempt to understand if the results seem reasonable given the methods.

Works Cited (also be called References or Bibliography ): This section comprises the author(s)’s sources. Always be sure to scroll through them. Good research usually cites many different kinds of sources (books, journal articles, etc.). As you read the Works Cited page, be sure to look for sources that look like they will help you to answer your own research question.

Adapted from http://library.hunter.cuny.edu/research-toolkit/how-do-i-read-stuff/anatomy-of-a-scholarly-article

A research journal is a periodical that contains articles written by experts in a particular field of study who report the results of research in that field. The articles are intended to be read by other experts or students of the field, and they are typically much more sophisticated and advanced than the articles found in general magazines. This guide offers some tips to help distinguish scholarly journals from other periodicals.

CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH JOURNALS

PURPOSE : Research journals communicate the results of research in the field of study covered by the journal. Research articles reflect a systematic and thorough study of a single topic, often involving experiments or surveys. Research journals may also publish review articles and book reviews that summarize the current state of knowledge on a topic.

APPEARANCE : Research journals lack the slick advertising, classified ads, coupons, etc., found in popular magazines. Articles are often printed one column to a page, as in books, and there are often graphs, tables, or charts referring to specific points in the articles.

AUTHORITY : Research articles are written by the person(s) who did the research being reported. When more than two authors are listed for a single article, the first author listed is often the primary researcher who coordinated or supervised the work done by the other authors. The most highly‑regarded scholarly journals are typically those sponsored by professional associations, such as the American Psychological Association or the American Chemical Society.

VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY : Articles submitted to research journals are evaluated by an editorial board and other experts before they are accepted for publication. This evaluation, called peer review, is designed to ensure that the articles published are based on solid research that meets the normal standards of the field of study covered by the journal. Professors sometimes use the term "refereed" to describe peer-reviewed journals.

WRITING STYLE : Articles in research journals usually contain an advanced vocabulary, since the authors use the technical language or jargon of their field of study. The authors assume that the reader already possesses a basic understanding of the field of study.

REFERENCES : The authors of research articles always indicate the sources of their information. These references are usually listed at the end of an article, but they may appear in the form of footnotes, endnotes, or a bibliography.

PERIODICALS THAT ARE NOT RESEARCH JOURNALS

POPULAR MAGAZINES : These are periodicals that one typically finds at grocery stores, airport newsstands, or bookstores at a shopping mall. Popular magazines are designed to appeal to a broad audience, and they usually contain relatively brief articles written in a readable, non‑technical language.

Examples include: Car and Driver , Cosmopolitan , Esquire , Essence , Gourmet , Life , People Weekly , Readers' Digest , Rolling Stone , Sports Illustrated , Vanity Fair , and Vogue .

NEWS MAGAZINES : These periodicals, which are usually issued weekly, provide information on topics of current interest, but their articles seldom have the depth or authority of scholarly articles.

Examples include: Newsweek , Time , U.S. News and World Report .

OPINION MAGAZINES : These periodicals contain articles aimed at an educated audience interested in keeping up with current events or ideas, especially those pertaining to topical issues. Very often their articles are written from a particular political, economic, or social point of view.

Examples include: Catholic World , Christianity Today , Commentary , Ms. , The Militant , Mother Jones , The Nation , National Review , The New Republic , The Progressive , and World Marxist Review .

TRADE MAGAZINES : People who need to keep up with developments in a particular industry or occupation read these magazines. Many trade magazines publish one or more special issues each year that focus on industry statistics, directory lists, or new product announcements.

Examples include: Beverage World , Progressive Grocer , Quick Frozen Foods International , Rubber World , Sales and Marketing Management , Skiing Trade News , and Stores .

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• The Literature Review: A Few Tips On Conducting It Contains two sets of questions to help students review articles, and to review their own literature reviews.
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The top 10 journal articles

This year, APA’s 89 journals published more than 4,000 articles. Here are the most downloaded to date.

By Lea Winerman

December 2018, Vol 49, No. 11

Print version: page 36

1: Journal Article Reporting Standards for Qualitative Research in Psychology

This American Psychologist open-access article lays out—for the first time—journal article reporting standards for qualitative research in psychology (Levitt, H.M., et al., Vol. 73, No. 1). The voluntary guidelines are designed to help authors communicate their work clearly, accurately and transparently. Developed by a working group of the APA Publications and Communications Board, the new standards describe what should be included in a qualitative research report, as well as in qualitative meta-analyses and mixed-methods research reports. They cover a range of qualitative traditions, methods and reporting styles. The article presents these standards and their rationale, details the ways they differ from quantitative research reporting standards and describes how they can be used by authors as well as by reviewers and editors. DOI: 10.1037/amp0000151

2: The Relationship Between Frequency of Instagram Use, Exposure to Idealized Images, and Psychological Well-Being in Women

Frequent use of the social media photo-sharing app Instagram could contribute to negative psychological outcomes in women, suggests this study in Psychology of Popular Media Culture (Sherlock, M., & Wagstaff, D.L., advance online publication). Researchers surveyed 119 women, ages 18 to 35, about their Instagram use, mental health outcomes and self-perceptions. On average, more Instagram use was correlated with more depressive symptoms, lower self-esteem, more general and physical appearance anxiety, and more body dissatisfaction. In a follow-up experiment, the researchers showed women beauty, fitness or travel images from Instagram. Participants who saw the beauty and fitness images rated their own attractiveness lower than a control group that saw no images. DOI: 10.1037/ppm0000182

3: Journal Article Reporting Standards for Quantitative Research in Psychology

This open-access article in American Psychologist lays out new journal article reporting standards for quantitative research in APA journals (Appelbaum, M., et al., Vol. 73, No. 1). The new standards are voluntary guidelines for authors and reviewers, developed by a task force of APA’s Publications and Communications Board. The recommendations include dividing the hypotheses, analyses and conclusions sections into primary, secondary and exploratory groupings to enhance understanding and reproducibility. The standards also offer modules for authors reporting on N-of-1 designs, replications, clinical trials, longitudinal studies and observational studies, structural equation modeling and Bayesian analysis. DOI: 10.1037/amp0000191

4: The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Item and Associative Recognition Memory

Sleep deprivation degrades different kinds of memory in the same way, finds this study in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: Learning, Memory, and Cognition (Ratcliff, R., & Van Dongen, H., Vol. 44, No. 2). Researchers assigned 26 participants to either a sleep-deprivation group or a control group. Before and after 57 hours of sleep deprivation, the participants did two memory tests in which they were shown word pairs and asked to recognize whether a word was on the pairs list (item recognition) or whether two words were studied in the same pair (associative recognition). Using a diffusion decision model, they found that sleep deprivation, unlike aging-related memory decline, reduced the quality of the information stored in memory for both tests to the same degree. DOI: 10.1037/xlm0000452

5: Do the Associations of Parenting Styles with Behavior Problems and Academic Achievement Vary by Culture?

Children with authoritative (high-warmth, high-control) parents have fewer behavior problems and better academic achievement compared with children of authoritarian (low-warmth, high-control) parents, and that association generally holds up across different countries and cultural groups, finds this meta-analysis in Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology (Pinquart, M., & Kauser, R., Vol. 24, No. 1). Researchers analyzed the results of 428 studies of parenting styles, with data on nearly 350,000 children from 52 countries. They found more similarities than differences in children’s responses to different parenting styles across ethnic groups and geographic regions. Authoritative parenting was associated with at least one positive outcome and authoritarian parenting was associated with at least one negative outcome in all regions. Overall, the association between parenting style and child outcomes was weaker in countries with more individualistic cultures. DOI: 10.1037/cdp0000149

6: Social Media Behavior, Toxic Masculinity and Depression

Men who adhere to standards of "toxic masculinity" are more likely to engage in negative behaviors on social media and are also more likely to suffer from depression, and these variables are intertwined in nuanced ways, according to a study in Psychology of Men & Masculinity (Parent, M.C., et al., advance online publication). In an online survey with 402 men, ages 18 to 74, researchers measured three areas: participants’ beliefs in toxic masculinity (sexism, heterosexism and competitiveness); their symptoms of depression; and their social media behavior, such as how often they posted positive or negative comments about things they saw online. Overall, the researchers found that men who endorsed "toxic masculinity" ideals reported more negative online behaviors and that negative online behaviors were associated with depression. DOI: 10.1037/men0000156

7: Prevention of Relapse in Major Depressive Disorder With Either Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy or Cognitive Therapy

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and cognitive therapy (CT) are equally effective ways to prevent patients from relapsing into depression, finds this article in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (Farb, N., et al., Vol. 86, No. 2). In the randomized trial, registered at ClinicalTrials.gov , 166 patients in remission from major depressive disorder were assigned to an eight-week session of either MBCT or CT. Researchers then followed the patients for two years, checking in on their depression symptoms every three months. Overall, relapse rates did not differ between the two treatment groups (18 out of 84 patients in the CT group and 18 out of 82 in the MBCT group), nor did the average time to relapse. DOI: 10.1037/ccp0000266

8: What Do Undergraduates Learn About Human Intelligence?

Many psychology textbooks contain inaccurate and incomplete information about intelligence, finds this analysis in the open-access, open-data journal  Archives of Scientific Psychology  (Warne, R.T., et al., Vol. 6, No. 1). By examining 29 of the most popular introductory psychology textbooks, researchers found that 79.3 percent contained inaccurate statements in their sections about intelligence and 79.3 percent contained logical fallacies. The five most commonly taught topics were IQ (93.1 percent), Gardner’s multiple intelligences (93.1 percent), Spearman’s g (93.1 percent), Sternberg’s triarchic theory (89.7 percent) and how intelligence is measured (82.8 percent), but few texts discussed the relative lack of empirical evidence for some of these theories. The authors note the limitations of the study, including the choice of standards for accuracy and the inherent subjectivity required for some of the data collection process.  DOI: 10.1037/arc0000038

9: Bullying Victimization and Student Engagement in Schools

Students at schools with less bullying and more positive atmospheres are more engaged with their schoolwork and school communities, finds this study in School Psychology Quarterly (Yang, C., et al., Vol. 33, No. 1). Researchers surveyed nearly 26,000 Delaware public school students in fourth through 12th grade about how often they had been the victims of bullying, as well as their perceptions of their schools’ climate, including teacher-student relationships, student-student relationships, fairness of rules, clarity of expectations, school safety and respect for diversity. Students also took a survey that assessed their levels of emotional and cognitive-behavioral engagement in their schools, including how happy they felt at school and how committed they were to their schoolwork. After controlling for student and school demographic factors including gender, race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status, a positive school climate was associated with higher student engagement across all grades. DOI: 10.1037/spq0000250

10: Emotion Regulation Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder With and Without Co-Occurring Depression

Emotion regulation therapy (ERT) is an effective treatment for generalized anxiety disorder, with or without co-occurring major depression, finds this study in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (Mennin, D.S., et al., Vol. 86, No. 3). ERT uses principles from cognitive-behavioral therapy and affect science to teach patients to identify, accept and manage their emotions and to use this awareness to guide their thinking and behavior. Researchers assigned 53 patients with anxiety (23 of whom also had depression) to be treated with ERT or to be part of a control group awaiting treatment. After 20 weeks, patients in the treatment group showed statistically and clinically significant improvements in anxiety and depression symptoms—including functional impairment, quality of life, worry and rumination—compared with the control group. DOI: 10.1037/ccp0000289

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How to Write and Publish a Research Paper for a Peer-Reviewed Journal

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• Published: 30 April 2020
• Volume 36 , pages 909–913, ( 2021 )

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• Ella August   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-5151-1036 1 , 2  

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Communicating research findings is an essential step in the research process. Often, peer-reviewed journals are the forum for such communication, yet many researchers are never taught how to write a publishable scientific paper. In this article, we explain the basic structure of a scientific paper and describe the information that should be included in each section. We also identify common pitfalls for each section and recommend strategies to avoid them. Further, we give advice about target journal selection and authorship. In the online resource 1 , we provide an example of a high-quality scientific paper, with annotations identifying the elements we describe in this article.

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Introduction

Writing a scientific paper is an important component of the research process, yet researchers often receive little formal training in scientific writing. This is especially true in low-resource settings. In this article, we explain why choosing a target journal is important, give advice about authorship, provide a basic structure for writing each section of a scientific paper, and describe common pitfalls and recommendations for each section. In the online resource 1 , we also include an annotated journal article that identifies the key elements and writing approaches that we detail here. Before you begin your research, make sure you have ethical clearance from all relevant ethical review boards.

Select a Target Journal Early in the Writing Process

We recommend that you select a “target journal” early in the writing process; a “target journal” is the journal to which you plan to submit your paper. Each journal has a set of core readers and you should tailor your writing to this readership. For example, if you plan to submit a manuscript about vaping during pregnancy to a pregnancy-focused journal, you will need to explain what vaping is because readers of this journal may not have a background in this topic. However, if you were to submit that same article to a tobacco journal, you would not need to provide as much background information about vaping.

Information about a journal’s core readership can be found on its website, usually in a section called “About this journal” or something similar. For example, the Journal of Cancer Education presents such information on the “Aims and Scope” page of its website, which can be found here: https://www.springer.com/journal/13187/aims-and-scope .

Peer reviewer guidelines from your target journal are an additional resource that can help you tailor your writing to the journal and provide additional advice about crafting an effective article [ 1 ]. These are not always available, but it is worth a quick web search to find out.

Identify Author Roles Early in the Process

Early in the writing process, identify authors, determine the order of authors, and discuss the responsibilities of each author. Standard author responsibilities have been identified by The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) [ 2 ]. To set clear expectations about each team member’s responsibilities and prevent errors in communication, we also suggest outlining more detailed roles, such as who will draft each section of the manuscript, write the abstract, submit the paper electronically, serve as corresponding author, and write the cover letter. It is best to formalize this agreement in writing after discussing it, circulating the document to the author team for approval. We suggest creating a title page on which all authors are listed in the agreed-upon order. It may be necessary to adjust authorship roles and order during the development of the paper. If a new author order is agreed upon, be sure to update the title page in the manuscript draft.

In the case where multiple papers will result from a single study, authors should discuss who will author each paper. Additionally, authors should agree on a deadline for each paper and the lead author should take responsibility for producing an initial draft by this deadline.

Structure of the Introduction Section

The introduction section should be approximately three to five paragraphs in length. Look at examples from your target journal to decide the appropriate length. This section should include the elements shown in Fig.  1 . Begin with a general context, narrowing to the specific focus of the paper. Include five main elements: why your research is important, what is already known about the topic, the “gap” or what is not yet known about the topic, why it is important to learn the new information that your research adds, and the specific research aim(s) that your paper addresses. Your research aim should address the gap you identified. Be sure to add enough background information to enable readers to understand your study. Table 1 provides common introduction section pitfalls and recommendations for addressing them.

The main elements of the introduction section of an original research article. Often, the elements overlap

Methods Section

The purpose of the methods section is twofold: to explain how the study was done in enough detail to enable its replication and to provide enough contextual detail to enable readers to understand and interpret the results. In general, the essential elements of a methods section are the following: a description of the setting and participants, the study design and timing, the recruitment and sampling, the data collection process, the dataset, the dependent and independent variables, the covariates, the analytic approach for each research objective, and the ethical approval. The hallmark of an exemplary methods section is the justification of why each method was used. Table 2 provides common methods section pitfalls and recommendations for addressing them.

Results Section

The focus of the results section should be associations, or lack thereof, rather than statistical tests. Two considerations should guide your writing here. First, the results should present answers to each part of the research aim. Second, return to the methods section to ensure that the analysis and variables for each result have been explained.

Begin the results section by describing the number of participants in the final sample and details such as the number who were approached to participate, the proportion who were eligible and who enrolled, and the number of participants who dropped out. The next part of the results should describe the participant characteristics. After that, you may organize your results by the aim or by putting the most exciting results first. Do not forget to report your non-significant associations. These are still findings.

Tables and figures capture the reader’s attention and efficiently communicate your main findings [ 3 ]. Each table and figure should have a clear message and should complement, rather than repeat, the text. Tables and figures should communicate all salient details necessary for a reader to understand the findings without consulting the text. Include information on comparisons and tests, as well as information about the sample and timing of the study in the title, legend, or in a footnote. Note that figures are often more visually interesting than tables, so if it is feasible to make a figure, make a figure. To avoid confusing the reader, either avoid abbreviations in tables and figures, or define them in a footnote. Note that there should not be citations in the results section and you should not interpret results here. Table 3 provides common results section pitfalls and recommendations for addressing them.

Discussion Section

Opposite the introduction section, the discussion should take the form of a right-side-up triangle beginning with interpretation of your results and moving to general implications (Fig.  2 ). This section typically begins with a restatement of the main findings, which can usually be accomplished with a few carefully-crafted sentences.

Major elements of the discussion section of an original research article. Often, the elements overlap

Next, interpret the meaning or explain the significance of your results, lifting the reader’s gaze from the study’s specific findings to more general applications. Then, compare these study findings with other research. Are these findings in agreement or disagreement with those from other studies? Does this study impart additional nuance to well-accepted theories? Situate your findings within the broader context of scientific literature, then explain the pathways or mechanisms that might give rise to, or explain, the results.

Journals vary in their approach to strengths and limitations sections: some are embedded paragraphs within the discussion section, while some mandate separate section headings. Keep in mind that every study has strengths and limitations. Candidly reporting yours helps readers to correctly interpret your research findings.

The next element of the discussion is a summary of the potential impacts and applications of the research. Should these results be used to optimally design an intervention? Does the work have implications for clinical protocols or public policy? These considerations will help the reader to further grasp the possible impacts of the presented work.

Finally, the discussion should conclude with specific suggestions for future work. Here, you have an opportunity to illuminate specific gaps in the literature that compel further study. Avoid the phrase “future research is necessary” because the recommendation is too general to be helpful to readers. Instead, provide substantive and specific recommendations for future studies. Table 4 provides common discussion section pitfalls and recommendations for addressing them.

Follow the Journal’s Author Guidelines

After you select a target journal, identify the journal’s author guidelines to guide the formatting of your manuscript and references. Author guidelines will often (but not always) include instructions for titles, cover letters, and other components of a manuscript submission. Read the guidelines carefully. If you do not follow the guidelines, your article will be sent back to you.

Finally, do not submit your paper to more than one journal at a time. Even if this is not explicitly stated in the author guidelines of your target journal, it is considered inappropriate and unprofessional.

Your title should invite readers to continue reading beyond the first page [ 4 , 5 ]. It should be informative and interesting. Consider describing the independent and dependent variables, the population and setting, the study design, the timing, and even the main result in your title. Because the focus of the paper can change as you write and revise, we recommend you wait until you have finished writing your paper before composing the title.

Be sure that the title is useful for potential readers searching for your topic. The keywords you select should complement those in your title to maximize the likelihood that a researcher will find your paper through a database search. Avoid using abbreviations in your title unless they are very well known, such as SNP, because it is more likely that someone will use a complete word rather than an abbreviation as a search term to help readers find your paper.

After you have written a complete draft, use the checklist (Fig. 3 ) below to guide your revisions and editing. Additional resources are available on writing the abstract and citing references [ 5 ]. When you feel that your work is ready, ask a trusted colleague or two to read the work and provide informal feedback. The box below provides a checklist that summarizes the key points offered in this article.

Checklist for manuscript quality

Data Availability

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Brett M, Kording K (2017) Ten simple rules for structuring papers. PLoS ComputBiol. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005619

Lang TA (2017) Writing a better research article. J Public Health Emerg. https://doi.org/10.21037/jphe.2017.11.06

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Acknowledgments

Ella August is grateful to the Sustainable Sciences Institute for mentoring her in training researchers on writing and publishing their research.

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Busse, C., August, E. How to Write and Publish a Research Paper for a Peer-Reviewed Journal. J Canc Educ 36 , 909–913 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-020-01751-z

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Published : 30 April 2020

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-020-01751-z

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What is a Research Journal? A Complete Guide to Publishing in Research Journal

Introduction

Characteristics of reputable research journals, types of research journals, why publish in research journals, selecting the right research journal, navigating the peer-review process of research journal, ethics in research journal publishing, open access journals, research journal examples.

Research journals are the cornerstone of academic communication and play a vital role in the advancement of research fields. They serve as a platform for researchers to share their findings, exchange ideas, and contribute to the collective knowledge of the academic community. Research journals facilitate the dissemination of new knowledge, promote critical thinking, and foster academic discourse.

For example, in the field of medicine, prestigious journals like The New England Journal of Medicine , The Lancet, and JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) publish groundbreaking research that has a significant impact on clinical practice and patient care. Research published in these journals can influence guidelines, policies, and treatment protocols, shaping the field of medicine and improving healthcare outcomes.

Similarly, in the field of computer science, journals such as IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence , ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction , and Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research publish cutting-edge research on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and human-computer interaction. Research published in these journals can shape the development of new technologies, algorithms, and applications, driving advancements in the field of computer science.

The article will provide an overview of research journals and their significance for research scholars, highlighting the importance of publishing in reputable journals to contribute to the academic community, gain recognition, and advance their careers. It will also discuss various aspects of research journals, including the peer-review process, ethical considerations, and the growing trend of open-access journals, to help research scholars make informed decisions when choosing where to publish their research.

What are Research Journals?

Research journals are periodical publications that publish original research articles, reviews, and other scholarly content related to a specific academic discipline or interdisciplinary field. They serve as a platform for researchers to communicate their findings and share their work with the broader academic community.

• Peer-review process: Reputable research journals typically employ a rigorous peer-review process, where submitted manuscripts are reviewed by experts in the field before they are accepted for publication. Peer review helps ensure the quality, accuracy, and validity of the research published in the journal.

For example, journals like Nature, Science, and Cell are well-known for their stringent peer-review process, where manuscripts undergo thorough evaluation by a panel of experts in the respective fields before they are accepted for publication.

• Editorial board: Reputable research journals have an editorial board comprising experts in the field who oversee the journal’s operations, provide guidance on its direction, and ensure the quality and integrity of the published content. The editorial board may include editors-in-chief, associate editors, and editorial reviewers who collectively make decisions on manuscript submissions.

For example, journals like Journal of Marketing Research, Journal of Finance, and Journal of Biological Chemistry have distinguished editorial boards comprised of leading scholars and researchers in their respective fields.

• Indexing: Reputable research journals are often indexed in well-known databases and indexing services, which enhance their visibility and accessibility to the academic community. Indexing services, such as PubMed , Scopus , and Web of Science , ensure that research published in these journals is easily discoverable and citable.

For example, journals like Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, and Journal of Materials Science are indexed in popular databases, making them widely recognized and cited within their respective fields.

• Disciplinary journals: These journals focus on specific academic disciplines, such as physics, chemistry, sociology, or psychology, and publish research articles and content within that particular discipline.

For example, journals like Journal of Neuroscience, Journal of Marketing, and Journal of Political Economy are disciplinary journals that cater to specific fields of study.

• Interdisciplinary journals: These journals publish research articles and content that span across multiple disciplines, bringing together research from different fields and encouraging interdisciplinary collaborations.

For example, journals like Science Advances, PLOS ONE, and Frontiers in Psychology are interdisciplinary journals that cover a wide range of topics and attract research from multiple disciplines.

• Open access journals: These journals make research articles freely available to readers without any paywalls or subscription fees, ensuring that research is accessible to a wider audience.

For example, journals like PLOS Biology, BioMed Central, and eLife are open access journals that provide unrestricted access to research content, promoting knowledge dissemination and democratizing access to scholarly information.

Understanding the different types of research journals and their characteristics can help research scholars choose the most appropriate journal for publishing their research, considering the scope, readership, and impact of their work.

Publishing research in reputable journals offers numerous benefits to research scholars, including:

• Academic recognition: Publishing in reputable research journals can enhance the visibility and recognition of researchers’ work within the academic community. Research articles published in well-established journals are often considered as valuable contributions to the field, which can lead to increased credibility and recognition among peers.

For example, publishing a research article in a prestigious journal like Nature or Science can significantly boost the academic reputation of the researcher and may lead to invitations for collaborations, speaking engagements, and other opportunities.

• Credibility: Publishing in reputable research journals adds credibility to the research findings. The peer-review process followed by reputable journals ensures that the research articles are rigorously evaluated by experts in the field, validating the quality and reliability of the research.

For example, research published in journals like The Lancet, Journal of the American Chemical Society, or IEEE Transactions on Information Theory is considered to be of high quality and reliable, which can strengthen the credibility of the research findings.

• Visibility: Publishing in reputable research journals increases the visibility of research work among the wider academic community. Many reputable journals have a large readership and broad reach, which can help researchers disseminate their findings to a larger audience.

For example, research articles published in journals like Nature Communications, Journal of Applied Physics, or Journal of Marketing Research are often widely read and cited by researchers, which can enhance the visibility and impact of the research.

• Career advancement: Publishing in reputable research journals can contribute to career advancement for research scholars. Publications in well-established journals are often considered important for securing academic positions, promotions, and research grants.

For example, having a strong publication record in reputable journals can be a significant factor in obtaining tenure or promotion in academia, securing funding from funding agencies, and advancing the career trajectory of a researcher.

• Building academic networks: Publishing in research journals can facilitate networking opportunities with fellow researchers, experts, and scholars in the field. It can lead to collaborations, discussions, and interactions that can foster the growth of research scholars’ academic networks.

For example, researchers who publish in reputable journals often receive invitations to conferences, workshops, and other academic events, providing opportunities to connect with other researchers, exchange ideas, and collaborate on future research projects.

• Promoting scientific rigor and integrity: Research journals play a crucial role in promoting scientific rigor and integrity through the peer-review process. The peer-review process helps ensure that research articles published in reputable journals are based on robust methodology, reliable data, and valid conclusions.

For example, the peer-review process followed by journals like Journal of Clinical Investigation, Journal of Experimental Medicine, or Psychological Bulletin ensures that the research articles are thoroughly evaluated by experts in the respective fields, maintaining the standards of scientific rigor and integrity.

Selecting the appropriate research journal for publishing research is a critical step that can impact the visibility, credibility, and impact of the research. Here are some tips for researchers to consider when selecting a research journal:

• Scope, readership, and impact factor: It’s essential to carefully evaluate the scope and readership of a research journal to ensure that it aligns with the research topic and target audience. Researchers should also consider the journal’s impact factor, which is a measure of the journal’s influence and citation rate in the field.

For example, if a researcher is conducting research in the field of environmental science, a journal like Environmental Science & Technology or Environmental Research would be more appropriate compared to a general science journal like Science or Nature.

• Publishing policies, submission guidelines, and copyright policies: Researchers should thoroughly review the publishing policies, submission guidelines, and copyright policies of research journals before submitting their research. This includes understanding the journal’s requirements for formatting, word count, referencing style, and other submission guidelines.

For example, some journals may have specific requirements for data sharing, ethical considerations, or authorship, which researchers need to be aware of and adhere to during the submission process.

• Predatory journals: It’s crucial to avoid predatory journals, which are low-quality or fraudulent journals that lack proper peer-review processes and editorial standards. Publishing in predatory journals can have negative consequences on the credibility and impact of the research.

For example, researchers should be cautious of journals that spam their email inbox with solicitation emails, promise rapid publication with minimal peer review, or charge exorbitant publication fees without providing proper editorial services.

I have written an article on Avoiding Predatory Conferences and Journals: A Step by Step Guide for Researchers . This article will help you in avoiding predatory conferences and journals.

Publishing in reputable journals with high editorial standards and a rigorous peer-review process ensures that the research undergoes a thorough evaluation and maintains the integrity and quality of the research. Researchers should aim to publish in journals that are indexed in reputable databases, recognized by their peers, and have a good reputation in their respective fields.

By selecting the right research journal, understanding the publishing policies and submission guidelines, and avoiding predatory journals, researchers can enhance the visibility, credibility, and impact of their research publications.

The peer-review process is a crucial step in the publication process of research journals. It involves the evaluation of research papers by experts in the field to ensure the quality, validity, and rigor of the research. Here’s what researchers need to know about navigating the peer-review process:

• Peer-review process and its significance: Researchers should explain the peer-review process and emphasize its significance in ensuring the quality and validity of research. Peer-review helps to identify and rectify any potential flaws, errors, or biases in the research, and ensures that only high-quality research is published in reputable journals.

For example, the peer-review process typically involves submission of the research paper to the journal, followed by evaluation by experts in the field who review the research for its originality, methodology, results, and conclusions. Reviewers provide feedback, suggestions, and comments to the authors, which help in improving the research before final publication.

• Types of peer-review: Researchers should discuss the different types of peer-review, such as single-blind, double-blind, and open peer-review. In single-blind peer-review, the reviewer’s identity is concealed from the authors, while in double-blind peer-review, the identities of both reviewers and authors are concealed. In open peer-review, the identities of both reviewers and authors are disclosed.

For example, in single-blind peer-review, the reviewer remains anonymous, which can help reduce biases, while in double-blind peer-review, both the reviewer and author remain anonymous, which can further reduce potential biases. Open peer-review promotes transparency and accountability, as the identities of both reviewers and authors are disclosed, allowing for a more collaborative and constructive feedback process.

• Responding to reviewer comments and revising research papers: Researchers should provide tips on how to respond to reviewer comments and revise research papers accordingly. It’s important to carefully consider and address all reviewer comments in a respectful and professional manner. Researchers should revise the research paper based on the feedback received, provide clarifications, and make necessary changes to improve the quality and validity of the research.

For example, researchers should avoid being defensive or dismissive of reviewer comments and instead view them as opportunities for improvement. It’s important to provide well-justified responses to reviewer comments and revise the research paper accordingly to address any concerns or suggestions raised by the reviewers.

Navigating the peer-review process can be challenging, but it is a crucial step in ensuring the quality and validity of research publications. By understanding the peer-review process, familiarizing oneself with different types of peer-review, and responding to reviewer comments in a constructive manner, researchers can enhance the chances of their research being accepted and published in reputable research journals.

I have written an article on Expert Tips for Responding to Reviewers’ Comments on Your Research Paper . This article will help you in replying to reviewer’s comments effectively.

Ethical considerations in publishing research are critical to ensure the integrity, credibility, and transparency of the scientific literature. Researchers should discuss the following ethical aspects of publishing research:

• Plagiarism: Researchers should emphasize the importance of avoiding plagiarism, which involves presenting someone else’s work, ideas, or words as one’s own without proper attribution. Plagiarism can result in serious consequences, including retraction of published papers, loss of credibility, and damage to reputation.

For example, researchers should highlight the need to properly cite and reference all sources used in their research, including text, figures, tables, and other scholarly works. They should also be aware of different types of plagiarism, such as verbatim copying, paraphrasing without proper attribution, and self-plagiarism, and take steps to avoid them.

Read my article on The Consequences of Plagiarism: What You Need to Know? . This article will help you to understand the consequences of plagiarism.

• Authorship: Researchers should discuss the principles of authorship and highlight the importance of giving proper credit to all individuals who have made substantial contributions to the research. Authorship should be based on meaningful intellectual contributions to the research, and all authors should be accountable for the accuracy and integrity of the published work.

For example, researchers should explain the criteria for authorship, such as conception and design of the study, data collection and analysis, interpretation of results, and drafting and revising the manuscript. They should also discuss the need for obtaining consent from all authors before submitting the research paper for publication.

Please refer my blog post on Does Author Position in a Research Paper Matter? . This blog will help you in deciding the authorship and giving proper credit to the contributors of the research work in research paper.

• Conflicts of interest: Researchers should highlight the need to disclose any conflicts of interest that could potentially bias the research findings or its interpretation. Conflicts of interest can arise from financial, personal, or professional relationships that may influence the research design, conduct, analysis, or reporting.

For example, researchers should disclose any funding sources, affiliations, or relationships that may have influenced the research. They should also explain how they have addressed or managed any conflicts of interest to ensure the integrity and transparency of the research.

• Data integrity: Researchers should emphasize the importance of maintaining data integrity throughout the research process, including data collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting. Data should be accurate, complete, and transparent, and any manipulation, fabrication, or falsification of data is unacceptable.

For example, researchers should explain the need for proper data management, including data storage, backup, and documentation. They should also highlight the importance of data sharing and reproducibility to promote transparency and rigor in scientific research.

• Ethical guidelines: Researchers should highlight the importance of adhering to ethical guidelines set by reputable organizations, such as the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) . These guidelines provide standards and best practices for authors, editors, and reviewers in publishing research.

For example, researchers should familiarize themselves with the ethical guidelines provided by COPE and ICMJE , which cover various aspects of research publication, including authorship, conflicts of interest, data integrity, and plagiarism. Adhering to these guidelines helps ensure the ethical conduct of research and enhances the credibility and integrity of published research.

Adhering to ethical considerations in publishing research is essential to maintain the integrity, credibility, and transparency of the scientific literature. By avoiding plagiarism, giving proper credit to authors, disclosing conflicts of interest, maintaining data integrity, and following ethical guidelines, researchers can contribute to responsible and ethical research publishing practices.

Open access journals are a type of research journal that provides free and unrestricted access to research articles online, without the need for a subscription or paywall. Here are some points to consider when discussing open-access journals:

• Concept of open access journals: Open access journals aim to make research findings widely accessible to the global community, removing barriers to accessing scholarly knowledge. This means that anyone, regardless of their institutional affiliation or financial resources, can freely access, read, download, and share research articles published in open-access journals.

For example, researchers should discuss the importance of open-access journals in democratizing access to scientific knowledge, particularly for researchers and readers from developing countries or institutions with limited access to subscription-based journals. Open-access journals provide an opportunity for broader dissemination of research findings, leading to increased visibility and potential impact.

• Types of open access models: Open access journals can operate under different models, including gold, green, and hybrid open access.
• Gold open access: In the gold open access model, the research articles are published in open-access journals that make articles freely available to readers immediately upon publication. In this model, the costs of publication are typically covered by article processing charges (APCs), which are paid by the authors or their institutions.
• Green open access: In the green open access model, researchers self-archive or deposit their accepted manuscripts in a repository or an institutional repository after publication in a subscription-based journal. These manuscripts are made freely accessible to readers after an embargo period or without any embargo, depending on the publisher’s policies.
• Hybrid open access: In the hybrid open access model, a journal may offer both open-access and subscription-based options. In this model, authors can choose to pay APCs to make their individual articles freely available while other articles remain behind a subscription paywall.

For example, researchers should explain the differences between these open-access models and how they affect the availability, visibility, and cost of accessing research articles. They should also discuss the implications of each model for researchers, institutions, and readers, including the potential benefits and limitations.

• Potential challenges and criticisms of open-access journals: Despite the advantages of open-access journals, there are also potential challenges and criticisms associated with them.
• Funding and sustainability: One challenge of open-access journals is the need to cover the costs of publication, typically through APCs. This can be a barrier for researchers or institutions with limited funding resources, leading to concerns about the sustainability of open-access journals.
• Quality and credibility: Another criticism of open-access journals is the perception that they may have lower quality or less rigorous peer-review processes compared to subscription-based journals. This can raise concerns about the credibility and reliability of research published in open-access journals.
• Predatory publishing: Open-access journals have also been associated with the rise of predatory publishing, where unethical publishers charge high APCs but provide little or no peer review or editorial oversight. This can result in low-quality or even fraudulent research being published in open-access journals.

Open-access journals offer advantages in terms of wider accessibility and visibility of research findings, but they also come with potential challenges and criticisms. Researchers should be aware of different open-access models, discuss the advantages and limitations of open-access journals, and carefully consider the quality and credibility of the journals they choose to publish their research in.

Visit my article on Open Access Journals: What do you Need to Know as a Researcher? . This article will help you in understanding the way in which open-access journals function.

One more article I have written about Avoiding Predatory Conferences and Journals: A Step by Step Guide for Researchers . This artcle will help you in avoiding predatory journal publications.

Here’s the list of open access and subscription-based journal examples.

• Open Access Journals: These journals provide free, unrestricted access to their content online. They typically do not charge readers or institutions for access and allow users to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of articles.
• Subscription-Based Journals: These journals require a subscription or payment to access their content. Readers or institutions must pay for access, either through individual subscriptions, institutional licenses, or pay-per-view options.

Publishing in research journals is a crucial step for research scholars to share their findings, establish their reputation, and contribute to the scholarly community. Carefully selecting reputable research journals, navigating the peer-review process, adhering to ethical considerations, and understanding open access options are important aspects of publishing research. By following best practices and contributing to reputable research journals, research scholars can make meaningful contributions to the advancement of knowledge in their fields and contribute to the scholarly community.

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How to format and use a journal template for your research paper

When writing your research paper it is crucial to understand what format your target journal requires, and what journal template you should use (if one at all). Although many of our journals have the basic elements of style in common, each journal can have its own guidelines for formatting. This defines how an article will look when it is published online or in print.

Read on to find out how to format your research paper for submission to your target journal.

How to format your research paper

Go to  Taylor & Francis Online  and search for the title of your chosen journal using the search bar.

Select the relevant journal and click on the instructions for authors tab.

Read your target journal’s instructions for authors, and find out about its formatting guidelines.

Below are a list of Word templates which can be used for many of our journals. Please download the relevant template and apply it to your research paper format.

Each version of the template has its own instructions file. Read the instructions to learn how to save and use the template.

Get familiar with the journal’s instructions for authors

Be prepared, speed up your submission, and make sure nothing is forgotten by understanding the journal’s individual requirements.

Using Taylor & Francis word templates for journal articles

Check to see which version of Word is installed on your computer

Read the instructions for the relevant version of the template in the list below

Download and save the template file to your computer

Apply these styles to your paper as appropriate

Taylor & Francis templates

Format-free submission

Many Taylor & Francis journals allow format-free submission .

If you use a consistent citation format and include all the necessary information, you may be able to submit your work without worrying about formatting your manuscript.

To find out if your journal allows format-free submission, go to your journal’s homepage on Taylor & Francis Online .

Read the instructions for authors’ for your chosen journal to find out if it operates format-free submission.

Submitting your article format-free?

Read our guide for more information on how to submit your article format-free.

Other journal format options

Latex templates.

Some of our journals accept manuscripts that use a LaTeX template.

Please check the instructions for authors on your chosen journal’s homepage on Taylor & Francis Online to know if LaTeX is an accepted format.

Your journal may provide a link to its specific template in the instructions for authors’ section of the journal’s homepage on Taylor & Francis Online.

If no template is provided, please  contact us  for advice.

What is LaTex?

LaTeX is a software system used to design documents for typesetting. It is most often used for mathematicians and researchers in the physical sciences, but it can be used for almost any form of publishing.

It permits advanced formatting of symbols and variables and structuring of formula. LaTeX has to be converted during the document structuring process during typesetting.”

F1000Research

F1000Research publishes different article types offering flexibility in format and structure, although specific requirements may apply to some article types.

You can find out more about article type-specific instructions for submission with F1000Research in the F1000Research Article Guidelines .

To submit to F1000Research, your manuscript can be submitted as:

Word (DOC or DOCX)

Rich text format (RTF) files

What is F1000Research?

This is an Open Research publishing platform offering rapid article publication and other research outputs without editorial bias.

Save time – let us help format your manuscript

Consider using expert editors to help you meet deadlines and make sure your manuscript complies to your target journal’s requirements.

Related resources

Journal manuscript layout guide

Journal submission support

Your submission checklist

Guide to improve your submission experience