Building a sustainable research momentum for academic career development: Why early career academics must not exclusively target higher-ranked journals

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Journal article publication stands as an enduring cornerstone of an academic’s career development in the ever-evolving landscape of academia. Beyond the confines of lecture halls and campus corridors, scholarly impact is often measured by the depth and breadth of one’s contributions to the body of knowledge within a specific field. Journal article publication not only serves as a testament to an individual’s research prowess but also plays a pivotal role in shaping the collective understanding of various subjects. This enduring tradition fosters intellectual discourse and serves as a conduit for disseminating ground-breaking discoveries, critical analyses, and innovative ideas to a global audience.

The assessment of an academic’s scholarly performance is intricately tied to the publication of journal articles, serving as a paramount indicator of intellectual rigour and scholarly contribution. In the academic realm, the quality, quantity, and impact of these publications are pivotal metrics that evaluators utilise to gauge an individual’s research prowess and academic standing. A robust publication record reflects an academic’s commitment to advancing knowledge within their field, demonstrating not only their depth of expertise but also their ability to navigate and contribute meaningfully to ongoing scholarly conversations. Citations and the reputation of the journals in which articles are published further underscore the influence of an academic’s work. As scholarly assessments increasingly rely on metrics such as the h-index and journal impact factors, journal article publications remain a fundamental and quantifiable benchmark for evaluating an academic’s scholarly performance, influencing hiring decisions, promotions, and overall recognition within the academic community.

Many scholars meticulously weigh journal rankings and impact factors as crucial factors in deciding where to submit their research for consideration and eventual publication. Journal rankings provide a systematic evaluation of the perceived prestige and influence of academic journals within specific disciplines, offering scholars valuable insights into the standing of potential outlets for their work. Impact factors, calculated based on the frequency with which articles in a journal are cited, serve as a quantitative measure of a journal’s reach and influence within the academic community. Consequently, scholars are motivated to target journals with higher rankings and impact factors to maximize the visibility and credibility of their research. Publishing in renowned journals enhances an academic’s visibility, increases the likelihood of citations, and contributes to the overall impact of their work. As a result, the strategic selection of journals based on rankings and impact factors has become an integral aspect of the academic publishing process, influencing the trajectory of an academic’s career and the broader reception of their contributions within the scholarly community

Despite their widespread use, journal rankings and impact factors can be inherently flawed due to inconsistencies arising from the diverse criteria employed by different ranking bodies. Various bodies use distinct methodologies, weighing factors such as citation rates, editorial policies, and perceived prestige differently in their assessments. These discrepancies contribute to an inherent lack of standardisation, making it challenging for scholars to rely on a universally accepted measure of a journal’s quality and influence. Additionally, certain ranking systems may prioritise quantity over quality or favour specific research paradigms, inadvertently introducing bias into the evaluation process. Such inconsistencies can undermine the reliability and accuracy of journal rankings and impact factors, leading to a potential misrepresentation of a journal’s true significance within a particular academic field. As scholars navigate the complex landscape of academic publishing, it becomes essential to approach these metrics with a critical eye, acknowledging the limitations and potential biases that may compromise their effectiveness in truly assessing the scholarly merit of research outlets.

The narrow focus on publishing exclusively in top-ranked journals can significantly jeopardize the research career of early-career and inexperienced academics. While prestigious journals undoubtedly offer heightened visibility, the intense competition for space often leads to prolonged publication timelines and increased likelihood of rejection. Early-career researchers may find themselves caught in a Catch-22 situation, where the pursuit of top-tier publications can impede the timely dissemination of their work and hinder their academic progress. Moreover, the pressure to conform to rigid standards set by these journals may stifle creativity and discourage exploration of niche or unconventional research avenues. The overemphasis on top rankings can also neglect the importance of diverse scholarly contributions, potentially side-lining valuable research that might not align with the specific criteria of elite journals. This myopic focus not only places undue stress on early-career academics but also risks stifling innovation and inhibiting the diversity of thought within the academic community, ultimately compromising the holistic development of emerging scholars.

While lower rank journals may often seem less attractive to many academics, they can be very useful particularly for early career and inexperienced academics to build their research profile. The publication of research articles in lower-ranked journals can play a crucial role in enhancing the scholarly visibility of early-career academics. While top-tier journals are often regarded as prestigious, lower-ranked journals provide a valuable platform for emerging scholars to disseminate their work more quickly and with potentially less stringent criteria. By targeting a broader range of publications, early-career academics can increase the frequency of their contributions and establish a more diverse publication record. This approach accelerates the dissemination of research and allows early career academics to engage with a wider audience, including scholars in related fields and practitioners. Additionally, lower-ranked journals may provide a more inclusive environment for innovative or unconventional research ideas that might not align with the strict criteria of top journals. Further lower-ranked journals with open-access options presents a range of benefits for early-career academics by ensuring that the published research is freely available to a global audience, maximizing the visibility and impact of the academic contributions. For early-career academics seeking to establish a strong presence in their field, this accessibility fosters increased exposure and recognition. Additionally, the open-access model aligns with the ethos of knowledge dissemination, allowing researchers to reach fellow scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and the broader public.

Targeting lower-ranked journals can be a strategic and beneficial approach for early-career academics aiming to build a robust publication record. Lower-ranked journals often have quicker review processes and higher acceptance rates, providing emerging scholars with more accessible avenues to showcase their research. By diversifying their publication strategy, early-career academics can establish a solid track record more efficiently, demonstrating consistent productivity. Additionally, these journals may offer a more supportive and developmental review process, providing constructive feedback that aids in the refinement of research skills. Building a publication record in a variety of outlets not only accelerates an academic’s visibility but also showcases adaptability and a willingness to engage with a broader scholarly community. This approach allows early-career researchers to gain valuable experience, gradually increasing the likelihood of successfully navigating the more competitive landscape of higher-ranked journals as they progress in their academic careers. As early-career academics garner recognition for their work in lower-ranked journals, they enhance their credibility and increase their chances of successfully navigating the more rigorous standards set by top-tier publications.

Targeting lower-ranked journals can also offer early-career academics invaluable experience in the publication process because these journals often have a more accessible entry point for emerging scholars, allowing them to navigate the intricacies of manuscript submission, peer review, and editorial revisions. For instance, the constructive feedback received from the review process in these journals can serve as a valuable learning opportunity, helping academics hone their research and writing skills. Additionally, the quicker turnaround times for publication in lower-ranked journals provide early-career researchers with a swifter introduction to the academic publishing cycle, enabling them to better understand the expectations and standards of scholarly dissemination. The exposure gained from these publications contributes to an academic’s growing confidence and familiarity with the peer review system, ultimately preparing them for the challenges and expectations of more prestigious journals as they progress in their careers.

If you are an early-career academic seeking to make a scholarly impact in your field, targeting lower-ranked journals can be a strategic pathway. These journals often cater to niche or specialized audiences, allowing researchers to address specific subfields or emerging areas of interest. By publishing in these outlets, early-career academics can contribute valuable insights that might not fit the stringent criteria of top-tier journals. For instance, an early-career scholar exploring innovative methodologies, interdisciplinary approaches, or underrepresented topics may find a more welcoming platform in lower-ranked journals. Moreover, the accessibility of these publications ensures a broader readership, including practitioners and researchers from diverse backgrounds who may find the research immediately applicable to their work. As such, targeting lower-ranked journals enables early-career academics to establish themselves as experts in specific domains, fostering a unique and impactful scholarly footprint within their field.

For inexperienced academics lacking the persistence and perseverance required to pursue publications in top-tier journals, receiving numerous rejections from these journals can be demoralising to promising academics and often lead some to leave academia for industry or other fields. Moreover, the pursuit of academic publications in top-tier journals can be time-consuming to the extent that it may delay the timely dissemination of one’s scholarly ideas or contributions, sometimes rendering those ideas outdated by the time they are eventually published. Accordingly, if you are an early career academic, targeting lower-ranked journals in the initial years of your career can be a prudent strategy to build research momentum and avoid potential demoralisation from rejections by higher-ranked journals. Lower-ranked journals often offer more accessible entry points, quicker publication timelines, and higher acceptance rates, providing a supportive environment for emerging scholars to establish a solid publication record. This approach allows academics to gain valuable experience in the publication process, receive constructive feedback, and refine their research skills without the pressure of intense competition. Building a foundation of publications in lower-ranked journals not only contributes to a sense of accomplishment but also cultivates resilience and a deeper understanding of the scholarly landscape. As early-career researchers accumulate successes, they can gradually transition to targeting higher-ranked journals with a strengthened skill set and a more realistic perspective, reducing the likelihood of demoralisation in the face of initial rejections and fostering a sustainable and positive trajectory for their research careers.