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Scholarly Communications: Open Access, Publishing, Author Profiles & More!

A starter guide on selecting journals, navigating the open access landscape and article processing chargers & discounts.

Tools to find Journals

To search DOAJ for OA journals without Article Processing Fees (AKA free to publish):

Step 1) Search for OA journals without fees by clicking the link on the homepage

Open DOAJ and select the "journals without fees" link

Step 2) Use limits on the left to filter by discipline

Factors to Consider

  • What are the open access options? Consider:
    • How much is it to publish Open Access?
    • What is the embargo (aka when can you) to publish a copy open access on StFX Scholar (StFX Repository) & what version of the manuscript?
  • Discovery. Consider:
    • What databases index the journal? (eg. MEDLINE? ERIC?)
    • Where do people you want to reach search? 
  • What are the impact metrics? Consider:
    • What is the impact factor? Cite Score?
  • What is the acceptance rate, speed of acceptance?

If you are not familiar with the journal, ensure it is a reputable journal that you want your research affiliated with. Be careful about predatory or deceptive publishers.

Checklist to Identify Predatory Publishers