Choosing a scientific journal for publication is an important and responsible step for every scientist. The future visibility of the publication and the researcher’s reputation depend on the quality and prestige of the outlet. However, some scientists experience difficulties in choosing a journal quartile, as there are certain differences between them. In this article, we will consider the specific features of each quartile, as well as which of them will be suitable for publishing your work.
What is a quartile?
A scientific journal quartile (Quartile) is an indicator that reflects the ranking of a scientific journal within its subject area. A journal’s quartile is determined based on the citation indicator.
The quartile of a journal in Scopus is determined based on the CiteScore indicator. In the SCImago system, the quartile is determined based on the SJR indicator. SJR considers not only the number of citations but also their value. CiteScore is calculated as the ratio of the number of citations received by the journal’s articles over the previous 4 years to the number of items published in it over the same period.
Web of Science uses the JIF (Journal Impact Factor) indicator, which is calculated as the ratio of the number of citations to articles published in the journal over the last 2 years to the number of those articles.
Accordingly, based on these indicators, journals are divided into four groups (quartiles) – Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4.
Quartile classification: what do Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 mean?
- Q1 (first quartile) – these are the most prestigious and highly ranked journals, which are in the top 25% of the list of the best outlets
- Q2 (second quartile) – quality journals occupying positions from 25% to 50% in the overall ranking of the best scientific journals
- Q3 (third quartile) – mid-level journals with moderate citation and influence indicators in their scientific field
- Q4 (fourth quartile) – these are new journals with the lowest indicators, which are in the bottom 25% of the list
How to choose a journal for publication?
The further growth of a work’s citations depends on the quartile of the scientific journal. The choice of journal may depend on your scientific goals, area of specialisation, and the level of preparation of the article. Below we will consider what you should pay attention to when choosing a journal for publication.
1. Scientific journal scope
Before choosing a journal, it is important to check how well your article matches its scope. If your research is narrow-profile, publishing in a high-quartile journal may not always be useful.
In most cases, Q1 and Q2 outlets are oriented towards broader and more general areas of science, which may not coincide with the narrow topic of your work. In such cases, it is worth considering publication in outlets with a more specialised focus, even if they have lower quartiles, such as Q3 or Q4.
It is important that the journal’s specialisation matches the topic of your work, as it may remain unnoticed even if the outlet has a high quartile.
2. Purpose of publication
When choosing a quartile, it is necessary to consider the purposes of publishing your article. For example, Q1 and Q2 journals are suitable for publication if you wish to receive the maximum state incentive payments, according to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. 1030 of 24 December 2019, namely:
- up to 30% of the official salary to each author for an article published in a Q1 journal
- up to 20% of the official salary to each author for publications in a Q2 journal
- up to 15% of the official salary for publishing a scientific article in a Q3 journal
- up to 5% of the official salary for publishing a scientific article in a Q4 journal
If you need publications to defend a dissertation or obtain an academic degree, you should be guided by the requirements of your educational institution or scientific organisation.
If the topic of your publication is more narrowly specialised, we recommend choosing Q3 or Q4 journals. As we noted above, the target audience of such outlets is interested in specific studies. This factor may contribute to improving your scientometrics indicators, because your works will have their own interested audience and will not be lost among a significant number of publications.
3. Publication timeframes
It is worth paying special attention to the duration of publication in journals of particular quartiles. In Q1 and Q2 outlets, the duration of the publication process on average can be 6-12 months. Since competition for publication in such journals is high, and the requirements for materials and the peer-review process are quite strict, it is necessary to take this into account before submitting your work. If publication timeframes are not a priority for you, you can choose a high-quartile outlet.
However, if time plays an important role for you, you should pay attention to Q3 and Q4 journals. In these outlets, the peer-review process in most cases is faster, and the requirements for articles are less strict compared to Q1 and Q2 journals. Despite the fact that such outlets may be considered less prestigious in the context of quartiles, they provide an effective opportunity to disseminate the results of the study relatively quickly in a quality outlet.
Having difficulties publishing in Q1-Q4 outlets? The Scientific Publications company is ready to help. Our specialists will audit your work and help you choose an appropriate journal in the Scopus or Web of Science databases. We will also support you at every stage of publication until the moment of indexation. Still have questions? Fill in the form below, and our manager will contact you to provide a free consultation. Together towards a successful publication!
