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Publish your research

Publishing your research involves more than just choosing a journal – it’s about making strategic decisions that affect the visibility, accessibility, and impact of your work. KTH Library offers support throughout the entire publishing process, from selecting the right publication channel to registering in DiVA, KTH’s publication database.

KTH policy for publishing

KTH strives to enhance the visibility of its research, making significant contributions not only to the global scientific community but also ensuring its impact resonates widely within society.

KTH's policy for publishing

Choose publication channel

The principles for selecting a publication channel involve strategic evaluation of relevance, credibility, visibility, and ethical considerations to ensure research reaches the appropriate audience and maintains academic integrity. 

Subject, relevance and audience

The first step is to assess how well a journal’s scope aligns with the research topic, methodology, and target audience.

Ask yourself questions such as:

  • Does the journal’s scope match my subject area and the type of article I am submitting?

  • Do researchers within my field, my institution, or my research group publish in this journal?

Publishing in channels that are used by your own research group increases visibility within the field and aligns with the institution’s publishing traditions.

Visibility and indexing

To maximize discoverability, verify that the journal is indexed in major databases relevant to the field, such as Web of Science, Scopus, or subject-specific indexes (e.g., MEDLINE, Inspec).

Ask yourself questions such as:

  • Is the journal indexed in relevant databases within my field?

  • How quickly after publication do articles become searchable in databases?

  • Are articles from the journal visible in Google Scholar and other open search services?

Short video on how to compare and choose publication channel

Academic metrics and reputation

Academic metrics and reputation are often used to assess the impact and visibility of research, for example through citations, journal rankings, and various bibliometric indicators. These metrics can be helpful when choosing a publication channel, but they should be used with caution and always considered in relation to the content of the research, its target audience, and disciplinary traditions.

Ask yourself questions such as:

  • What impact does the journal have compared to others within the same subject area?

  • How reliable and relevant are these metrics within my field?

Graphic of predatory journals

Did you know that…

… predatory journals (unreliable or deceptive journals) and paper mills exploit the pressure to publish in academia by offering fast but illegitimate publication? Using them can harm both your credibility and the quality of your research.

Open access and funder requirements

According to KTH’s publishing policy, research should be accessible and visible to as many people as possible. Many research funders require research results to be published with open access. Before choosing a journal, it is therefore important to ensure that it offers a legitimate open access option and that the publication complies with your funder’s requirements, for example regarding licences, archiving, and accessibility.

There are several ways to make your text openly accessible. Read more about open access

The author retains copyright unless it is transferred to a publisher or another party. Therefore, carefully read the agreement you receive from the publisher before signing it. Read more about copyright

Checking these aspects in advance reduces the risk of problems later on and helps ensure that your research can be disseminated and used freely.

Ask yourself questions such as:

  • Does the journal offer open access?

  • Have I read and understood the copyright agreement?

  • Is there support or an agreement that covers the article processing charge (APC)?

  • Does the journal or my funder require research data to be shared openly?

Peer review

Peer review means that articles or conference papers are reviewed by independent experts within the same subject area prior to publication. However, the fact that a journal applies peer review does not necessarily mean that all publications in the journal are peer-reviewed.

Ethical and practical considerations

When choosing a publication channel, it is important to take both ethical and practical aspects of the publishing process into account. By reflecting on issues such as authorship, peer review procedures, and timelines, you can make a more informed choice and reduce the risk of problems during or after publication.

Ask yourself questions such as:

  • Do I and the journal follow ethical guidelines for authorship and publishing (e.g. COPE, CRediT)?

  • What type of peer review is used? How long is the review process, and what is the acceptance rate?

By combining these principles with open science tools, researchers can make informed, ethical, and strategic decisions when selecting publication channels, ensuring their work is visible, credible, and accessible.

We can provide tips and advice on which journal and publisher an article might be suitable for, with regard to subject area, article type, citation impact, open access, and acceptance rate.

Mats Magnusson

"We want research to be free, but it comes with a responsibility"

The changing publishing landscape requires new approaches from universities. Otherwise, research quality can fall and trust in science can be compromised.

Icon open science

Course: Open Science and Research Data Management

In this course you can learn more about open science and data management. The course is available on Canvas learning platform. It is available for everyone, but as a KTH employee you can register to follow your progress. It is conducted in English, and you can proceed at your own pace.

Access the course: Open Science and Research Data Management