School Successfully Holds Lecture on “Selecting Research Topics and Target Journals for Academic Papers”

On the morning of December 11, 2022, the School of Languages and Communication Studies, Beijing Jiaotong University successfully held a lecture titled “Selecting Research Topics and Target Journals for Academic Papers”. The keynote speaker was Professor Louisa Ha, an Eminent Scholar and Graduate Director from Bowling Green State University, and the session was moderated by Professor Su Linsen from the Department of Communication Studies at the School.

Professor Louisa Ha provided a detailed explanation of the entire process, from selecting a research topic to choosing a target journal for submission, while also addressing the academic standards that must be adhered to during the submission process. She shared the publishing guide she co-developed with her students (the BGSU SSCI Communication Journal Publishing Guide) as a reference for the audience. The lecture attracted over 400 faculty members and students from universities both in China and abroad.

At the beginning of the lecture, Professor Ha introduced the publication process for academic journals and how to identify a research topic. A good topic, she emphasized, should first be one that the researcher is passionate about and interested in. Second, the topic should contribute to a specific research field. Third, it should hold significant theoretical and/or methodological importance. Finally, the chosen topic should be worthy of publication and dissemination. Scholars can develop topics based on phenomena or issues they find intriguing, assess the importance of the topic through literature reviews, and ultimately determine their research direction by leveraging their strengths. While short-term trending topics may be easier to publish, their impact on knowledge production in academia is often limited. Similarly, studies based on representative datasets or technology-related research tend to have higher publication rates, but researchers should carefully consider whether such topics align with their expertise.

Professor Ha also explained how to create a list of target journals for submission and highlighted the importance of doing so. A journal list helps authors understand the appeal of their topic; if very few journals are suitable for submission, the topic may be too niche or specialized. Authors should prioritize their journal choices, so that if a submission is rejected by one journal, necessary revisions can be made before submitting to the next. When compiling a journal list, factors to consider include the journal’s impact factor, the target audience, journals cited in the author’s references, journals that have published similar topics, journals aligned with the author’s research methodology, and journals with faster review processes. Authors can compile a list of journals based on their personal needs. By comparing their work with articles published in target journals, authors can select the most suitable journal for submission, which not only enhances research efficiency but also helps maintain a healthy mindset.

As a journal editor, Professor Ha expressed understanding of authors’ perspectives but noted that many lack comprehensive knowledge about journals or objective comparisons. To address this, she shared resources for retrieving journal information. First, she introduced the BGSU Communication Core Journal Guide (available at: https://www.bgsu.edu/arts-and-sciences/media-and-communication/resources/ssci-communication-journal-publishing-guide), which covers 95 SSCI journals in communication studies. She also shared other publishing guide resources, such as https://www.journal-publishing.com/guide/, and publishing guides from journal publishers like Springer and SAGE. Professor Ha recommended considering special issues of journals for publication, as they often have faster review processes and more focused themes.

Professor Ha reiterated the importance of publication ethics and listed typical ethical violations. First, plagiarism is strictly prohibited, and authors should take action if their work is plagiarized. Second, self-plagiarism (text recycling), where text overlaps with the author’s previously published work, is also unacceptable. She advised referring to the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines on text recycling. Third, regarding data fabrication, Professor Ha clarified that incorrect data analysis does not necessarily equate to misconduct, but fabricating or tampering with data does. She emphasized that authors should take full responsibility for their research outcomes, ensuring the accuracy of data analysis and the validity of conclusions. Authors should be involved in all aspects of the research, from conceptualization to writing, rather than merely compiling data. Finally, Professor Ha addressed other ethical violations, such as excessive self-citation and multiple submissions, advocating for adherence to publication ethics to foster and maintain a healthy academic environment.

Following Professor Ha’s insightful presentation, the lecture moved to an active Q&A session. Attendees raised questions about journal submissions, research direction selection, and special issue contributions, such as how to write for special issues, journal publication fees, strategies for defining research directions, and conducting research in the Chinese context. Professor Ha provided detailed and targeted responses to each question. In conclusion, Professor Su Linsen thanked Professor Ha for her insightful sharing and announced upcoming lectures in the series.

编译：梁昱卓