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How to Start a Research Paper: A Step-by-Step Guide

Starting a research paper can seem overwhelming, but breaking it down into manageable steps can make the process much easier. This guide will walk you through each stage, from choosing a topic to finalizing your paper, ensuring you stay organized and focused. Whether you're new to research or looking to improve your skills, these steps will help you create a strong, well-structured paper.

Key Takeaways

• Select a topic that interests you and has enough available resources.
• Formulate a clear and focused research question to guide your study.
• Conduct a thorough literature review to understand existing research and identify gaps.
• Develop a detailed research plan with a timeline and methodology.
• Ensure proper formatting and citation to maintain academic integrity.

Choosing a Research Topic

Choosing a research topic is a crucial first step in writing a research paper. It sets the stage for your entire project, so it's important to choose wisely. Here are some steps to help you select a topic that is both interesting and feasible.

Identifying Your Interests

Start by thinking about what excites you. Pick a topic that you find fun and fulfilling. This will keep you motivated throughout your research. Make a list of subjects you enjoy and see how they can relate to your field of study. Your job will be more pleasant if you choose a topic that holds your interest.

Evaluating the Scope of the Topic

Once you have a few ideas, check if they are too broad or too narrow. A good topic should be manageable within the time you have. Ask yourself if you can cover all aspects of the topic in your thesis. For example, exploring the link between technology and mental health could be narrowed down to how WhatsApp use impacts college students' well-being.

Ensuring Availability of Resources

Before finalizing your topic, ensure that there are enough resources available. Conduct preliminary research to see if there is sufficient data and literature on your chosen topic. This step is vital as you may discover issues with your original idea or realize you have insufficient resources to explore the topic effectively. This key bit of groundwork allows you to redirect your research topic in a different, more feasible, or more relevant direction if necessary.

Formulating a Research Question

Understanding the importance of a research question.

A well-defined research question is the cornerstone of any successful research paper. It provides a clear focus and direction for your study, ensuring that your efforts are both relevant and meaningful. A strong research question helps you stay on track and avoid unnecessary detours. It also makes it easier to communicate the purpose and significance of your research to others.

Techniques for Crafting a Strong Research Question

To develop a compelling research question, start by identifying your interests and the gaps in the existing literature. Use the 5 W's: who, what, where, when, and why , to explore different aspects of your topic. This approach will help you narrow down your focus and create a question that is both specific and researchable. Additionally, consider the feasibility of your question by evaluating the availability of resources and the scope of your study.

Aligning Your Question with Objectives

Your research question should align with the objectives of your study. This means that it should be directly related to what you aim to achieve through your research. Clearly defined objectives will guide your research process and ensure that your question remains relevant throughout your study. By aligning your question with your objectives, you can produce a coherent and focused research paper that effectively addresses the problem at hand.

Conducting a Literature Review

Gathering Relevant Sources

Start by collecting sources that are related to your research topic. Use libraries, online databases, and academic journals to find books, articles, and papers. Skimming sources initially can save you time; set aside those that seem useful for a more thorough read later.

Analyzing Existing Research

Once you have gathered your sources, read through them carefully. Take notes on key points and different viewpoints. This will help you understand the current state of research in your field. Look for common themes and debates that can inform your own work.

Identifying Research Gaps

As you analyze the existing research, look for areas that haven't been explored or questions that haven't been answered. These gaps can provide a direction for your own research and make your thesis more valuable. Identifying these gaps is crucial for crafting a strong research question and ensuring your work contributes new knowledge to the field.

Developing a Research Plan

Creating a solid research plan is crucial for the success of your thesis. It helps you stay organized and ensures that you cover all necessary aspects of your research.

Writing the Thesis Introduction

Establishing context.

Starting your thesis introduction can be daunting, but it's crucial for setting the stage for your research. Establishing the context for your study helps readers understand the background and significance of your work. This section should provide a clear overview of what your thesis will cover, making it easier for readers to follow your arguments.

Crafting a Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement is the heart of your introduction. Typically, it is placed at the end of the introductory paragraph. This statement should succinctly present the main argument or focus of your thesis, guiding the reader on what to expect.

Justifying the Research Problem

Once you have your research question, you need to justify why it is important. Explain the significance of your research problem in the context of existing literature. Highlight the gaps your research aims to fill and how it will contribute to the field. This step is crucial for crafting a bachelor thesis that stands out.

Structuring the Research Paper

Organizing sections.

A well-structured research paper is essential for clarity and coherence. Start by dividing your paper into key sections: Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion. Each section should serve a specific purpose and contribute to the overall argument of your paper. Organize your research by identifying main topics and subtopics, gathering relevant sources, and summarizing key points. This will help you maintain a logical flow throughout your paper.

Ensuring Logical Flow

Ensuring a logical flow between sections and paragraphs is crucial. Use transitions to connect ideas and guide the reader through your arguments. Each paragraph should begin with a clear topic sentence that introduces the main idea, followed by supporting evidence and analysis. This approach not only enhances readability but also strengthens your argument.

Maintaining Coherence

Coherence is achieved when all parts of your paper work together to support your thesis statement. To maintain coherence, make sure each section and paragraph aligns with your research objectives. Regularly review your work to ensure that your ideas are presented logically and that your voice remains dominant. Cite sources carefully to avoid plagiarism and to give credit to the original authors.

Data Collection and Analysis

Choosing data collection methods.

Selecting the right data collection methods is crucial for the success of your research. Data collection is the process of gathering, measuring, and analyzing accurate data. Consider methods such as surveys, interviews, or experiments based on your research needs. Each method has its strengths and weaknesses, so choose the one that best fits your study.

Analyzing Data Accurately

Once you have collected your data, the next step is to analyze it accurately. Use statistical tools and software to help you interpret the data. Create tables and graphs to illustrate your findings clearly. This will help you present your results in a structured and understandable way.

Interpreting Results

Interpreting your results is an essential part of your thesis. Discuss how your findings relate to your research questions and the existing literature. Highlight the significance of your analyses and the reliability of your findings. This will help you draw meaningful conclusions and provide valuable insights into your research topic.

Drafting and Revising the Paper

Writing the First Draft

Start by writing your first draft without worrying too much about perfection. Focus on getting your ideas down on paper. This initial draft is your chance to explore your thoughts and structure your argument. Remember, the goal is to create a foundation that you can build upon.

Incorporating Feedback

Once you have a draft, it's time to incorporate feedback. Share your work with your thesis supervisor and peers. Their insights can help you see your work from different perspectives and identify areas for improvement. Revising is a continuous process of re-seeing your writing. It involves considering larger issues like focus, organization, and audience.

Polishing the Final Draft

Finally, polish your final draft. Pay attention to grammar, punctuation, and formatting. Ensure that your thesis is clear, concise, and free of errors. This step is crucial for making a strong impression and effectively communicating your research findings.

Proper Formatting and Citation

Adhering to style guides.

When formatting your research paper, it's crucial to follow the specific style guide recommended by your institution. Common styles include APA, MLA, and Chicago. Each style has its own set of rules for formatting headings, tables, and references. Adhering to these guidelines ensures your paper meets academic standards and is easy to read.

Citing Sources Correctly

Citing your sources correctly is essential to avoid plagiarism and give credit to the original authors. Typically, a citation can include the author's name, date, location of the publishing company, journal title, or DOI (Digital Object Identifier) . Use the citation style specified by your university, such as APA or MLA . For example, in APA format, an in-text citation might look like this: (Smith, 2020).

Avoiding Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a serious academic offense. To avoid it, always cite the sources you use in your research. This not only gives credit to the original authors but also adds credibility to your work. Use tools like Grammarly’s Citation Generator to ensure your citations are flawless and your paper is free from plagiarism.

Maintaining Academic Integrity

Understanding academic integrity.

Academic integrity is the foundation of any scholarly work. It involves being honest and responsible in your research and writing. Maintaining academic integrity ensures that your work is credible and respected. It also means giving proper credit to the original authors of the sources you use. This practice not only helps you avoid plagiarism but also strengthens your arguments by backing them up with credible sources.

Strategies to Avoid Plagiarism

To avoid plagiarism, always cite your sources correctly. Use a consistent citation style, such as APA or MLA, and make sure to include all necessary information. Here are some tips to help you:

• Paraphrase information in your own words and cite the source.
• Use quotation marks for direct quotes and include a citation.
• Keep track of all the sources you consult during your research.
• Use plagiarism detection tools to check your work before submission.

Ensuring Originality

Ensuring the originality of your work is crucial. This means that your ideas and findings should be your own, even if they are based on existing research. Here are some ways to ensure originality:

• Conduct thorough research to understand what has already been done in your field.
• Identify gaps in the existing research and focus on filling those gaps with your work.
• Develop your own unique perspective or approach to the topic.
• Regularly review and revise your work to ensure it reflects your original ideas.

By following these steps, you can maintain academic integrity and produce a research paper that is both credible and original.

Finalizing the Research Paper

Proofreading and editing.

Before submitting your research paper, it's crucial to proofread and edit your work thoroughly. Start by reviewing the content for clarity and coherence. Ensure that each section flows logically and that your arguments are well-supported. Pay close attention to grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors, as these can detract from the professionalism of your paper. Consider reading your paper aloud or using a text-to-speech tool to catch mistakes you might have missed.

Preparing for Submission

Once you have polished your paper, it's time to prepare it for submission. Make sure you adhere to the specific formatting guidelines provided by your institution or the journal you are submitting to. This includes checking the font style and size, margins, and page numbering. Ensure that all citations and references are correctly formatted according to the required style guide, such as APA or MLA. Double-check that your paper meets all the submission requirements, including word count and any additional documents that need to be included.

Seeking Peer Review

Before finalizing your research paper, seek feedback from peers or mentors. A fresh set of eyes can provide valuable insights and help identify areas for improvement that you might have overlooked. Share your paper with colleagues or use online platforms to get constructive criticism. Incorporating feedback from others can enhance the quality of your work and ensure that your arguments are clear and compelling.

Wrapping up your research paper can be a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. Our step-by-step Thesis Action Plan is here to guide you through every stage, making the process smoother and less stressful. Ready to conquer your thesis challenges? Visit our website now and discover how we can help you achieve your academic goals.

Starting a research paper can seem overwhelming, but breaking it down into manageable steps makes the process much easier. By choosing a topic that interests you, conducting thorough research, and organizing your findings, you lay a strong foundation for your paper. Remember to create a clear thesis statement to guide your writing and keep your arguments focused. Drafting, revising, and seeking feedback are crucial steps to refine your work. Finally, ensure your paper is well-formatted and free of errors. With dedication and careful planning, you can successfully navigate the research paper writing process. Good luck!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i choose a research topic.

Start by thinking about what interests you. Pick a topic that you find fun and fulfilling. This will keep you motivated throughout your research. Also, make sure there are enough resources available on the topic.

Why is a research question important?

A research question guides your study, helping you focus on a specific issue. It makes your research more organized and meaningful.

What is the purpose of a literature review?

A literature review helps you understand what has already been studied about your topic. It shows gaps in the research that your study can fill.

How do I create a research plan?

Outline your methodology, create a timeline, and allocate resources. This helps you stay organized and ensures you cover all necessary aspects of your research.

What should be included in the thesis introduction?

Your thesis introduction should establish the context, present your thesis statement, and justify the research problem. This sets the stage for your study.

How do I ensure my research paper is well-structured?

Organize your sections logically, ensure a smooth flow of ideas, and maintain coherence throughout the paper. Each part should connect well with the others.

What are the best methods for data collection and analysis?

Choose methods that best suit your research needs, such as surveys, interviews, or experiments. Use statistical tools to analyze data accurately and interpret your results.

How can I avoid plagiarism in my research paper?

Always cite your sources correctly and follow the citation style recommended by your institution. Use plagiarism checkers to ensure your work is original.

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A Model for Advancing Institutional Effectiveness via Undergraduate Research

To help scale traditional faculty/student models of undergraduate research engagement, institutional leaders can consider research peer mentoring, group-based programs and community-engaged research, write Brett H. Say and Caitlin Pingree.

By  Brett H. Say and Caitlin Pingree

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With group-based research programs, undergraduates have the opportunity to interact with a community of like-minded peers while also cultivating skills that will lead to further success in academic or professional careers. 

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University research plays a pivotal role in helping society develop new knowledge, inform action and advance the public good, with university faculty being the primary drivers of research innovation within higher education institutions. While much of the public discourse around improving research outcomes within universities focuses on things like the need for better public communication of research and concerns about program funding and sustainability , an issue less discussed is the value of undergraduate research programs (UGRs) and lack of developed, scalable models for increasing undergraduate research participation.

Current practices used for developing UGRs rely heavily on individual faculty and student mentoring agreements, which, while valuable, are consistently limited due to faculty workloads, student experience or competition among undergraduate students (there are many more students than faculty!). These obstacles make traditional models of undergraduate research engagement unbalanced, difficult to scale and complicated by the variety of research training practices across disciplines.

A high-impact practice that increases student engagement, retention and success—as George Kuh, previous director of Indi a na University at Bloomington’s Center for Postsecondary Research , has found in his work—undergraduate research has incredible potential to help students succeed while also elevating university status, yet standard undergraduate research program guidelines remain loosely defined. Building off years of experience forming our own undergraduate research program and guidance from organizations like the Council on Undergraduate Research , we offer structured options for developing UGR programs in any type of institution and how they can benefit students and higher education organizations alike.

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Create a Peer Mentoring Program

Pairing undergraduates with faculty mentors is the ideal scenario for undergraduate research training, but increased faculty teaching and service requirements often limits their ability to mentor undergraduate students. Undergraduates are also naturally still learning the research methods of their field.

Universities can help jump-start undergraduate research training through developing mentoring relationships with upper-division students who have already worked with faculty on formal research projects. Not only does this create a pipeline for student research, but it can also help introduce students to a larger research community, creating a sense of belonging for incoming students.

The concept of near-peer mentoring has been shown to contribute to increased student retention and engagement. By using upper-division students as mentors, first-year students can learn about research in their field as early as their first semester, allowing undergraduates to become comfortable in research settings while also breaking down misconceptions about where research happens (e.g., not just the library and lab). The key to the success of these programs, however, is creating structure around student pairings and activities, not just matching students based on interests or majors.

Our office used the following approach to develop a first-year research peer mentoring program:

• Recruit mentors via upper-division undergraduate research programs.
• Match mentors and mentees based on discipline, when possible, but allow flexibility (e.g., if research methods are similar across fields, student discipline may not matter).
• Provide mentors training on effective mentoring practices. We developed a training program based on the mentoring model of cognitive apprenticeship .
• Create program structures and goals. We created a syllabus with weekly program topics and activities (e.g., reflections, identifying potential faculty mentors, etc.). Students should meet in person, when possible, to create a sense of community.

Encourage Group-Based Research

Research is rarely an individual endeavor. Rather, research relies on the intersection of multiple disciplines, often requiring interdisciplinary teams to work together to successfully complete projects. Many traditional models of research mentoring tend to promote an individualistic, isolated approach to research. For undergraduates, this can lead to unnecessary anxiety and potential negative experiences. Mentor absenteeism, interpersonal misalignment, lack of career and psychosocial support, or even abuse of power can be detrimental to a student’s overall interest in research, mental well-being and career trajectory .

Developing group-based research programs, specifically for undergraduates, provides students the opportunity to interact with a community of like-minded peers while also cultivating skills that will lead to further success in academic or professional careers. The facilitated group aspect of these programs combats potential negative outcomes by introducing students to interdisciplinary, group research early in their careers and acclimates students to working successfully with a team, a skill most future employers will value.

In 2023, our office launched a group-based undergraduate research program called the Martinson Applied Projects program. This program, supported by a donor and collaborators across campus, awards funding to faculty projects that encourage (or require) group-based research with undergraduate students. For those familiar, think of it as an internal NSF REU .

Our team developed a two-phase program structure in which students can earn credit throughout the academic year for completing project specific outcomes and preapproved student deliverables, like submitting a national scholarship application or journal publication. We provide faculty with general program structure expectations, removing some of the administrative burden for the faculty and funding for project development that allows operational flexibility.

For students, this program provides a supportive environment where they can learn about research from a subject-matter expert, work toward specific goals and have access to a community of peers that provides interpersonal support.

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Promote Community Research Engagement

While most universities know the importance of community engagement, community-engaged research can be a powerful tool for change. This type of research, however, requires special consideration to ensure universities are engaging with their communities appropriately and effectively. The Oxford Handbook of Qualitative Research describes community research as “relational research where all participants change and grow in a synergistic relationship as they work together and strategize to solve issues and problems that are defined by and meaningful to the community.”

Universities often have significant impacts on their communities, for better or worse. By remembering to keep the nature of community research collaborative at its core, universities can ensure their community-based programs are well intentioned and meaningful for the communities with which they work.

At the University of Pittsburgh, we provide unique guidelines for students conducting community-based research and require students to work alongside a faculty mentor familiar with community-based research practices.

It is also important for undergraduate research program administrators to make sure they are following university guidelines for community engagement. Our Office of Engagement and Community Affairs provides resources for community-engaged scholarship and can provide important perspectives that those solely operating in the research world might not have.

Development of community-engaged research guidebooks, like at the University of Michigan , for example, also provides students and faculty guiding principles for their community research programs. Universities should consider the implementation of such a guidebook to reinforce and standardize the expectations of current and future community research programs.

Focus on Increased Student Representation and Participation

Our team knows misconceptions about what research looks like and where it is done are some of the main deterrents keeping undergraduate students from considering research experiences. Students in professional fields (e.g., business or nursing) and students in the arts are particularly likely to feel that research is “not for them.”

The reality, however, is that research isn’t bound by discipline—it belongs to the arts and the sciences and it’s conducted by artists and engineers. Nevertheless, many view research as a niche field conducted solely by academics. These misconceptions can be especially detrimental for first-generation students or students from historically underrepresented backgrounds who may benefit greatly from this high-impact practice.

Research also excels at teaching soft skills, such as project management, communication and interdisciplinary collaboration, while also helping students build professional networks and a sense of community within their schools.

To combat these misconceptions and increase student research engagement, we took the following approach:

• Create workshops and informational materials that help students understand what research looks like across disciplines and industries.
• Collaborate with institutional partners whose goals align with increasing student engagement and representation. At Pitt, the TRIO McNair , Bridges and Kessler Scholars programs seek to engage first-generation students and students from historically underrepresented backgrounds in research activities.
• Incorporate course-based undergraduate research experiences into major requirements across disciplines. The Council on Undergraduate Research provides excellent guidance for developing course-based activities.

Institutional Benefits of Undergraduate Research Development

By using the guidelines provided here, institutions can incorporate scalable undergraduate research programs that both benefit students and contribute to larger institutional goals.

• Increased research status. With the recent update to the Carnegie classification criteria for research institutions , investing in undergraduate research can help universities increase institutional status via increased spending on research initiatives and retention of undergraduate students who wish to pursue doctoral degrees or apply to prestigious national scholarships (e.g., NSF REUs, GRFPs, etc.).
• Student retention. As a high-impact educational practice, undergraduate research has been shown to improve educational outcomes for students across disciplines. Our programs specifically focus on developing research communities and activities that create a sense of belonging and achievement within and outside the classroom.
• Research communication. The more universities invest in undergraduate research, the more potential there is for conversation about research to reach the public. Students who participate, particularly in interdisciplinary programs, gain more experience discussing their work with others and comparing and understanding the significance of their work in a broader context. This can lead students to feel more confident in promoting their work to those outside of academia (e.g., families, friends, employers, etc.), thus making research accessible to all. Also, when research discussion reaches the public, it enables universities to better advocate for the importance and societal impact of their work.
• Increased inclusiveness and service. When universities work closely in tandem with their communities to help make positive changes that are important to the people, they position themselves as a positive, helpful force in their community rather than a potentially negative one. Increased representation and equal opportunities for students through targeted research programs also continue to deconstruct stereotypes surrounding who can do research and where it is done, which can lead to increased undergraduate research participation in students from diverse backgrounds.

Closing Thoughts

To recruit and train future leaders across fields and promote the important research colleges and universities contribute to society, higher education institutions must move toward a more holistic approach to research engagement that considers undergraduate students as an integral part of the research enterprise.

While faculty and graduate programs should still be the foundation of any research university, engaging more undergraduate students ensures we are able to help students develop important skills they can bring to any industry, open career paths students may never have considered and enable higher education to better communicate the importance of our research to the general public.

Brett H. Say served as director of research programs for five years in the David C. Frederick Honors College at the University of Pittsburgh. He now works within the Data Analytics Team in the Office of the Provost. Caitlin Pingree is administrative assistant to the Frederick Honors College Office of Research.

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Reading a Scholarly Article or Research Paper

Identifying a research problem to investigate requires a preliminary search for and critical review of the literature in order to gain an understanding about how scholars have examined a topic. Scholars rarely structure research studies in a way that can be followed like a story; they are complex and detail-intensive and often written in a descriptive and conclusive narrative form. However, in the social and behavioral sciences, journal articles and stand-alone research reports are generally organized in a consistent format that makes it easier to compare and contrast studies and interpret their findings.

General Reading Strategies

W hen you first read an article or research paper, focus on asking specific questions about each section. This strategy can help with overall comprehension and with understanding how the content relates [or does not relate] to the problem you want to investigate. As you review more and more studies, the process of understanding and critically evaluating the research will become easier because the content of what you review will begin to coalescence around common themes and patterns of analysis. Below are recommendations on how to read each section of a research paper effectively. Note that the sections to read are out of order from how you will find them organized in a journal article or research paper.

1.  Abstract

The abstract summarizes the background, methods, results, discussion, and conclusions of a scholarly article or research paper. Use the abstract to filter out sources that may have appeared useful when you began searching for information but, in reality, are not relevant. Questions to consider when reading the abstract are:

• Is this study related to my question or area of research?
• What is this study about and why is it being done ?
• What is the working hypothesis or underlying thesis?
• What is the primary finding of the study?
• Are there words or terminology that I can use to either narrow or broaden the parameters of my search for more information?

2.  Introduction

If, after reading the abstract, you believe the paper may be useful, focus on examining the research problem and identifying the questions the author is trying to address. This information is usually located within the first few paragraphs of the introduction or in the concluding paragraph. Look for information about how and in what way this relates to what you are investigating. In addition to the research problem, the introduction should provide the main argument and theoretical framework of the study and, in the last paragraphs of the introduction, describe what the author(s) intend to accomplish. Questions to consider when reading the introduction include:

• What is this study trying to prove or disprove?
• What is the author(s) trying to test or demonstrate?
• What do we already know about this topic and what gaps does this study try to fill or contribute a new understanding to the research problem?
• Why should I care about what is being investigated?
• Will this study tell me anything new related to the research problem I am investigating?

3.  Literature Review

The literature review describes and critically evaluates what is already known about a topic. Read the literature review to obtain a big picture perspective about how the topic has been studied and to begin the process of seeing where your potential study fits within the domain of prior research. Questions to consider when reading the literature review include:

• W hat other research has been conducted about this topic and what are the main themes that have emerged?
• What does prior research reveal about what is already known about the topic and what remains to be discovered?
• What have been the most important past findings about the research problem?
• How has prior research led the author(s) to conduct this particular study?
• Is there any prior research that is unique or groundbreaking?
• Are there any studies I could use as a model for designing and organizing my own study?

4.  Discussion/Conclusion

The discussion and conclusion are usually the last two sections of text in a scholarly article or research report. They reveal how the author(s) interpreted the findings of their research and presented recommendations or courses of action based on those findings. Often in the conclusion, the author(s) highlight recommendations for further research that can be used to develop your own study. Questions to consider when reading the discussion and conclusion sections include:

• What is the overall meaning of the study and why is this important? [i.e., how have the author(s) addressed the " So What? " question].
• What do you find to be the most important ways that the findings have been interpreted?
• What are the weaknesses in their argument?
• Do you believe conclusions about the significance of the study and its findings are valid?
• What limitations of the study do the author(s) describe and how might this help formulate my own research?
• Does the conclusion contain any recommendations for future research?

5.  Methods/Methodology

The methods section describes the materials, techniques, and procedures for gathering information used to examine the research problem. If what you have read so far closely supports your understanding of the topic, then move on to examining how the author(s) gathered information during the research process. Questions to consider when reading the methods section include:

• Did the study use qualitative [based on interviews, observations, content analysis], quantitative [based on statistical analysis], or a mixed-methods approach to examining the research problem?
• What was the type of information or data used?
• Could this method of analysis be repeated and can I adopt the same approach?
• Is enough information available to repeat the study or should new data be found to expand or improve understanding of the research problem?

6.  Results

After reading the above sections, you should have a clear understanding of the general findings of the study. Therefore, read the results section to identify how key findings were discussed in relation to the research problem. If any non-textual elements [e.g., graphs, charts, tables, etc.] are confusing, focus on the explanations about them in the text. Questions to consider when reading the results section include:

• W hat did the author(s) find and how did they find it?
• Does the author(s) highlight any findings as most significant?
• Are the results presented in a factual and unbiased way?
• Does the analysis of results in the discussion section agree with how the results are presented?
• Is all the data present and did the author(s) adequately address gaps?
• What conclusions do you formulate from this data and does it match with the author's conclusions?

7.  References

The references list the sources used by the author(s) to document what prior research and information was used when conducting the study. After reviewing the article or research paper, use the references to identify additional sources of information on the topic and to examine critically how these sources supported the overall research agenda. Questions to consider when reading the references include:

• Do the sources cited by the author(s) reflect a diversity of disciplinary viewpoints, i.e., are the sources all from a particular field of study or do the sources reflect multiple areas of study?
• Are there any unique or interesting sources that could be incorporated into my study?
• What other authors are respected in this field, i.e., who has multiple works cited or is cited most often by others?
• What other research should I review to clarify any remaining issues or that I need more information about?

NOTE:   A final strategy in reviewing research is to copy and paste the title of the source [journal article, book, research report] into Google Scholar . If it appears, look for a "cited by" reference followed by a hyperlinked number under the record [e.g., Cited by 45]. This number indicates how many times the study has been subsequently cited in other, more recently published works. This strategy, known as citation tracking, can be an effective means of expanding your review of pertinent literature based on a study you have found useful and how scholars have cited it. The same strategies described above can be applied to reading articles you find in the list of cited by references.

Reading Tip

Specific Reading Strategies

Effectively reading scholarly research is an acquired skill that involves attention to detail and an ability to comprehend complex ideas, data, and theoretical concepts in a way that applies logically to the research problem you are investigating. Here are some specific reading strategies to consider.

As You are Reading

• Focus on information that is most relevant to the research problem; skim over the other parts.
• As noted above, read content out of order! This isn't a novel; you want to start with the spoiler to quickly assess the relevance of the study.
• Think critically about what you read and seek to build your own arguments; not everything may be entirely valid, examined effectively, or thoroughly investigated.
• Look up the definitions of unfamiliar words, concepts, or terminology. A good scholarly source is Credo Reference .

Taking notes as you read will save time when you go back to examine your sources. Here are some suggestions:

• Mark or highlight important text as you read [e.g., you can use the highlight text  feature in a PDF document]
• Take notes in the margins [e.g., Adobe Reader offers pop-up sticky notes].
• Highlight important quotations; consider using different highlighting colors to differentiate between quotes and other types of important text.
• Summarize key points about the study at the end of the paper. To save time, these can be in the form of a concise bulleted list of statements [e.g., intro provides useful historical background; lit review has important sources; good conclusions].

Write down thoughts that come to mind that may help clarify your understanding of the research problem. Here are some examples of questions to ask yourself:

• Do I understand all of the terminology and key concepts?
• Do I understand the parts of this study most relevant to my topic?
• What specific problem does the research address and why is it important?
• Are there any issues or perspectives the author(s) did not consider?
• Do I have any reason to question the validity or reliability of this research?
• How do the findings relate to my research interests and to other works which I have read?

Adapted from text originally created by Holly Burt, Behavioral Sciences Librarian, USC Libraries, April 2018.

Another Reading Tip

When is it Important to Read the Entire Article or Research Paper

Laubepin argues, "Very few articles in a field are so important that every word needs to be read carefully." * However, this implies that some studies are worth reading carefully if they directly relate to understanding the research problem. As arduous as it may seem, there are valid reasons for reading a study from beginning to end. Here are some examples:

• Studies Published Very Recently .  The author(s) of a recent, well written study will provide a survey of the most important or impactful prior research in the literature review section. This can establish an understanding of how scholars in the past addressed the research problem. In addition, the most recently published sources will highlight what is known and what gaps in understanding currently exist about a topic, usually in the form of the need for further research in the conclusion .
• Surveys of the Research Problem .  Some papers provide a comprehensive analytical overview of the research problem. Reading this type of study can help you understand underlying issues and discover why scholars have chosen to investigate the topic. This is particularly important if the study was published recently because the author(s) should cite all or most of the important prior research on the topic. Note that, if it is a long-standing problem, there may be studies that specifically review the literature to identify gaps that remain. These studies often include the word "review" in their title [e.g., Hügel, Stephan, and Anna R. Davies. "Public Participation, Engagement, and Climate Change Adaptation: A Review of the Research Literature." Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change 11 (July-August 2020): https://doi.org/10.1002/ wcc.645].
• Highly Cited .  If you keep coming across the same citation to a study while you are reviewing the literature, this implies it was foundational in establishing an understanding of the research problem or the study had a significant impact within the literature [either positive or negative]. Carefully reading a highly cited source can help you understand how the topic emerged and how it motivated scholars to further investigate the problem. It also could be a study you need to cite as foundational in your own paper to demonstrate to the reader that you understand the roots of the problem.
• Historical Overview .  Knowing the historical background of a research problem may not be the focus of your analysis. Nevertheless, carefully reading a study that provides a thorough description and analysis of the history behind an event, issue, or phenomenon can add important context to understanding the topic and what aspect of the problem you may want to examine further.
• Innovative Methodological Design .  Some studies are significant and should be read in their entirety because the author(s) designed a unique or innovative approach to researching the problem. This may justify reading the entire study because it can motivate you to think creatively about also pursuing an alternative or non-traditional approach to examining your topic of interest. These types of studies are generally easy to identify because they are often cited in others works because of their unique approach to examining the research problem.
• Cross-disciplinary Approach .  R eviewing studies produced outside of your discipline is an essential component of investigating research problems in the social and behavioral sciences. Consider reading a study that was conducted by author(s) based in a different discipline [e.g., an anthropologist studying political cultures; a study of hiring practices in companies published in a sociology journal]. This approach can generate a new understanding or a unique perspective about the topic . If you are not sure how to search for studies published in a discipline outside of your major or of the course you are taking, contact a librarian for assistance.

* Laubepin, Frederique. How to Read (and Understand) a Social Science Journal Article . Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ISPSR), 2013

Shon, Phillip Chong Ho. How to Read Journal Articles in the Social Sciences: A Very Practical Guide for Students . 2nd edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage, 2015; Lockhart, Tara, and Mary Soliday. "The Critical Place of Reading in Writing Transfer (and Beyond): A Report of Student Experiences." Pedagogy 16 (2016): 23-37; Maguire, Moira, Ann Everitt Reynolds, and Brid Delahunt. "Reading to Be: The Role of Academic Reading in Emergent Academic and Professional Student Identities." Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice 17 (2020): 5-12.

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Is publishing as an undergraduate a thing that really happens? [duplicate]

Sometimes, there are questions on here about undergraduate students publishing research (see here , here , and here ). The answers don't seem particularly surprised that this is happening or try to dissuade the asker, they treat it like a normal question.

In my entire life, I've never heard of undergraduates publishing results apart from a handful of examples from famous science prodigies.

Furthermore, my experience of undergraduate was not conducive at all to publishing. I graduated from a mediocre UK university, and there was no original research done at all. Undergraduate is for getting you up to speed on the foundations of a field, preparing you for postgraduate where you study one sub-field, then a PhD where you push the boundaries of a sub-sub-field.

The questions linked above give advice like, "Discuss it with your supervisor". But as far as I'm aware undergraduates don't have supervisors.

Is this really as common as it would seem from questions on here? Is it a regional thing? Something that happens only at top universities?

• publications
• undergraduate
• research-undergraduate

• 2 Its a fair question, though, and as the other posts note it publishing as an undergraduate is still not the 'norm', but happens enough to be notable without being unheard of. If it doesn't address what you were wanting to know please do feel free to ask another question that gets at what the existing Q&As don't address! –  BrianH Commented Feb 1, 2019 at 2:05
• 1 It's common to expected for science students at expensive ivies and near-ivies to work in a lab and get experience/publications. It's reasonably common at large public research universities. It's difficult in other situations. Either way it's very rare to actually drive the science bus as an undergraduate. Usually you're there to see how the bus works. Some grad student or postdoc is driving. –  user101106 Commented Feb 1, 2019 at 2:13
• 2 There's also a culture difference. Undergraduate research is much less common in the UK than in the US. –  Solveit Commented Feb 1, 2019 at 6:10

5 Answers 5

Most undergraduates do not publish, but it's quite normal for undergraduates who get involved in research to end up publishing.

Reasons why few undergraduates publish include:

• They aren't interested in research, or are more interested in all the myriad other awesome things you can spend your time on as a newly (semi)independent adult in college.
• They are interested in research, but don't manage to find a good mentor (typically a professor) to work with. Nearly all undergraduate institutions have professors doing research, but some institutions or departments within an institution have a lot more going on than others.
• They get connected to a research project, but their work isn't publishable. Undergraduates are typically unreliable (see first point), and so often are given high-risk or boring work (a friend of mine got a "research" job one summer crushing rocks into fine powder with a mortar and pestle).
• They do publishable research, but it doesn't come out until they are no longer an undergraduate. Even the fastest project rarely takes less than six months from start to publication, and many take multiple years. If a student starts researching in their junior or senior year, even a great project may not result in publications during undergraduate.

That said, none of these are particularly insurmountable obstacles, and with the right combination of interest, a good environment, and a bit of luck, it's quite reasonable to have work published as an undergraduate.

Some undergraduates even become quite well-published, simply by virtue of having the right combination of skill, luck, and circumstances. For example, this week a colleague of mine mentioned to me that one of his undergraduate students now had approximately a dozen journal publications. Until they said it, I hadn't realized this student's numbers had accumulated quite so much, but it didn't surprise me, since this student is a good contributor to a complex many-person project that publishes frequently.

In short: undergraduate publication is statistically infrequent, but entirely normal.

It varies from field to field. But some fields this isn't uncommon at all. STEM and social sciences fields are generally easier to publish than in humanities, in part due to it being less subjective about what is worth publishing. It is easier to publish in fields which don't require a lot of experimental equipment(unless one is a member of some very big collaboration- some of the big papers out of the LHC have undergrads on the author lists for example), and so math is one of the fields where it is most common. In various areas of math, some areas are easier for non-experts to understand than other. For example, graph theory and number theory have more low-hanging fruit that doesn't require technical background, while for example algebraic topology has more trouble.

At a pure level of anecdote, my first published paper was actually in high school; this is rare but not at all unheard of, and I wasn't particularly brilliant. I got lucky and found some low-hanging fruit that hadn't been noticed.

I suspect what you're thinking of as "undergraduate" isn't what others are thinking of when they say they do research as undergraduates. For example, suppose a student goes directly into a 4-year undergraduate program topped off by a one-year long research project (known as an "Honours project" in some places). The results of this can certainly be publishable. Other possibilities could be, a summer research project, or a direct-to-Masters program like the MPhys. In all these cases, the undergraduate will indeed have a supervisor.

Of course undergraduates, being relatively inexperienced, are not likely to get revolutionary results, but they can still achieve publishable results, and that can lead to publications. It's possible, and I'd say quite common for the best undergraduates to have published something before graduate school.

It's not that hard in some of the experimental sciences, especially if not first author. Assuming you have some relation to a lab group and have a grad student or postdoc running a project and you run a few of his samples. Not really that hard to get included. Yeah...even then it is time away from your real classes or the brewpub. But far from impossible.

Edit: saw your comment on the school. Yeah, if it is not a research university, that will of course make it hard to do what I just said. But if you are at Cal or Georgia Tech or the like, not a problem. Especially if you use some savvy to figure out which group to work with, what sorts of things to get involved with. Not cutting edge super math, not building apparatus, not waiting for a Space Shuttle to run your sample. But a group that publishes a lot.

Of course they do. It does happen to undergrads who find research internships or in programs where they can do an undergraduate thesis for instance. It’s not that rare in some fields, but quite so in other fields.

One does need a bit of luck though, as not all project will have reached or can even reach a stage where an undergraduate may contribute enough to warrant co-authorship.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged publications undergraduate research-undergraduate .

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• Undergraduate publishing opportunities
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• Undergraduate Research > -->

Already published?

There are many journals that publish undergraduate research, scholarly, or creative work. The ones listed below are just some suggestions.

Discussions is the peer-reviewed undergraduate research journal of Case Western Reserve University, publishing research papers written by current undergraduate students from accredited colleges and universities around the globe. The research can be on any topic, not limited to science or engineering. A student may submit a paper from a class, as long as his/her work presents a new and innovative idea.  Submission deadlines vary by edition; please refer to website for details.

Journal of Student Research is an electronic, peer-reviewed multidisciplinary journal devoted to the rapid dissemination of current papers in an array of disciplines that are novel, integrative, and accessible to a wide audience.

Journal of Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Excellence is a peer-reviewed journal accepting submission of any subject from any undergraduate institution.

Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research is a peer-reviewed journal accepting empirical research manuscripts from undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty who are members of Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology.

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology Undergraduate Math Journal is devoted entirely to papers written by undergraduates for work completed before graduation. This is a refereed, online journal.

Undergraduate Research Journal for the Human Sciences is an annual online, national, reviewed journal dedicated to the publication a full range of the scholarly efforts of undergraduate students.

The  Undergraduate Research Commons  is a discovery portal showcasing over 700 outstanding undergraduate research publications—and counting. This collection of exemplary undergraduate work includes award-winning capstone projects, faculty-mentored research, and peer-reviewed scholarship from hundreds of undergraduate institutions.

Office of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity

Mailing address, social media.

• Library Catalogue

The latest news and answers to your questions about scholarly publishing and open access.

How can I publish an academic article as an undergraduate student?

Choosing where to submit your work as an undergrad.

As a researcher, where you submit will really depend on the details of the submission and where it best fits, as well as where you're likely to be successful at this point in your career. Journals will often consider any original research and will assess it based on the novelty and contribution to the field of research. However, there are a few steps you can take to increase your chances of being successful in getting your work published at this stage.

• Check out our post on Getting Published: Tips for choosing an academic journal for general suggestions about journal publishing, including where to look for possible journals and options for making your work open access.
• Check the journals' rejection rates. Journals with very high rejection rates may be more challenging to publish in as a student, simply because they accept fewer articles.
• Consider whether you can work with a faculty member to co-author the paper that you submit.
• Do some research to find out where other undergraduate students in your department have been successful in getting published.

Journals dedicated to publishing undergraduate research

More information about undergraduate publishing.

Visit the following resources to learn more about Scholarly Publishing, and contact your liaison librarian or [email protected] for additional support.

• Scholarly Publishing and Open Access webpages
• Introduction to Scholarly Publishing at SFU - Canvas Course
• Attend a Research Commons publishing workshop, such as the Publishing Symposium (while the Research Commons workshops are primarily offered to graduate students, undergraduate students interested in publishing are welcome to attend).

*Don't see an SFU student journal in your discipline? Consider starting one! Visit the SFU Library Digital Publishing webpages and contact [email protected] to learn more.

Contact us : For assistance with scholarly publishing, please contact  [email protected] .

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Undergraduate Publication Opportunities at GWU

Journals that publish student research and writing.

• Emily's Handouts

• The Eckles Prize for First Year Research Excellence This annual prize recognizes students who produce a research project in their first year that demonstrates significant and meaningful use of library services and collections at the George Washington University.
• GW Undergraduate Review Established in 2016, the GW Undergraduate Review is the premier publication of research from undergraduate students at The George Washington University. Our mission is to promote undergraduate research on GW's campus through events, workshops, and the publication of a student peer-reviewed journal.​ The GWUR is student-run and supported by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research.
• The Globe The Globe is the only Undergraduate Journal in International Affairs at the George Washington University (GW). Jointly sponsored by the International Affairs Society (IAS) and the Elliott School of International Affairs, The Globe publishes an annual issue every Spring Semester to showcase the ideas, perspectives, and research of GW Students interested in Security, Human Rights, Development, and other sub-fields of IA.
• Publish and Present Student Work A list of undergraduate publications, curated by the Center for Undergraduate Fellowships and Research at GWU.

Here is a comprehensive list of journals that publish student research and writing, maintained by the Council on Undergraduate Research . See below for direct links to select titles.

• Girl Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal for Undergraduate Research Girls Studies: An Interdisciplinary Journal for Undergraduate Research publishes the work of undergraduate students on topics such as the socialization of female adolescents, gender expectations, identity, body image, the impact of media on girls, and girl empowerment. Submissions of an interdisciplinary nature as well as from across the disciplines--for example, from Sociology, History, Literature, Cultural Studies, Education, Art, and Feminist Theory (to name a few)-- are welcomed.
• International Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities A peer-reviewed, open-access journal dedicated to the publication of outstanding scholarship by undergraduates and their mentors from academic institutions of higher learning. The Journal accepts submissions of research articles, fiction, poetry, photography, videos, and other creative works from undergraduate students in all academic disciplines.
• Journal of Student Research Journal of Student Research is an electronic, academic, multidisciplinary peer-reviewed journal.
• Queen City Writers We seek thought-provoking pieces from any disciplinary perspective that explore questions and problems related to writing, rhetoric, reading, literacy broadly conceived, popular culture and media, community discourses, and multimodal and digital composing. We expect that the work will be informed by critical conversations relevant to the topic–that is, composers should incorporate timely, pertinent research to support claims. In addition, we welcome projects that experiment with form, voice, style, and delivery.
• Stanford Undergraduate Research Journal The Stanford Undergraduate Research Journal (SURJ) is an annual peer-reviewed publication of research articles written primarily by Stanford undergraduates, but also by well-qualified students at other institutions, from all academic fields.
• Inquiries Inquiries, formerly Student Pulse, is an online open-access academic journal focused on publishing the work of university students from around the world in a wide range of academic disciplines.
• Undergraduate Journal of Service Learning and Community Based Research The Undergraduate Journal of Service Learning and Community-Based Research adds to the increasing number of scholarly journals that invite undergraduates to pursue their own intellectual projects. We seek undergraduate contributions to the burgeoning academic conversation on service learning and community-based research. The Undergraduate Journal of Service Learning and Community-Based Research is open to undergraduate students in the U.S. and across the globe in all subject areas. All submissions will undergo a rigorous review process.
• Young Scholars in Writing Young Scholars in Writing: Undergraduate Research in Writing and Rhetoric (YSW), a peer-reviewed journal for undergraduates, was founded in 2003 by Laurie Grobman and Candace Spigelman at Penn State Berks. YSW is the first international undergraduate research journal in rhetoric and writing studies and has garnered a national reputation.
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Student journals create unique avenues by which emerging scholars can engage with research more profoundly. They offer a more viable path for students to earn publication and provide valuable professional opportunities, as student leaders can experience academic publishing from a distinct vantage point and develop as leaders in research. Student journals often play an integral role in research engagement programs at the institutional level. CUR offers a Student Journals community as a place for those involved in student research journals—students, faculty, librarians, administrators, and others—to share resources, foster discussion of best practices, seek solutions to issues encountered in the operation of student journals, and provide support and networking to such individuals. There is also an impressive list of undergraduate research journals, and if you don’t see your journal posted, visit the link at the bottom of the Undergraduate Journal Catalog webpage to submit your listing.

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research

Home > Libraries > LIBRARIESPUBLISHING > SPS > SPSOAJ > JPUR

The Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research has been established to publish outstanding research papers written by Purdue undergraduates from all disciplines who have completed faculty-mentored research projects. The journal is run by students, but behind the scenes is a unique partnership between Purdue University Press and other departments of Purdue University Libraries, working with Purdue Marketing and Media and the Writing Lab, based in the Department of English. Publication of JPUR is sponsored by the Office of the Provost at Purdue University.

We are now accepting submissions for Volume 14 to be published in August 2024. The final deadline for the 2024 volume is February 15, 2024 . To submit your proposal, please use the "Submit Proposal" link on the left-hand navigation bar.

Student Opportunities

JPUR is an Open Access journal. This means that it uses a funding model that does not charge readers or their institutions for access. Readers may freely read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of articles. This journal is covered under the CC BY-NC-ND license. If you have concerns about the submission or publication terms for the Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research , please contact the Journal Coordinator at [email protected].

Who is reading JPUR right now?

Current volume: volume 13 (2023).

Editorial Jenna Rickus

Clouds in the Ancient Lunar Atmosphere: Water Ice Nucleation on Aerosol Simulants Mariana C. Aguilar

Parentally Exposed Zebrafish Larvae Have Altered Craniofacial Measurements: Multigeneration Developmental Atrazine Toxicity Isabelle Akoro

A Computational Profile Of Invasive Lionfish In Belize: A New Insight on a Destructive Species Joshua E. Balan

Machine Learning of Big Data: A Gaussian Regression Model to Predict the Spatiotemporal Distribution of Ground Ozone Jerry Gu

Characterizing Differential Reflectivity Calibration Dependence on Environmental Temperature Using the X-band Teaching and Research Radar (XTRRA): Looking for a Relationship between Temperature and Differential Reflectivity Bias Emma Miller

Genome-Wide Mutagenesis to Investigate the N-Terminal Methylome: The Protective Effects of Hsp31 and Other Methylated Proteins in Yeast James Rooney and Jacob Lindsey

Trauma, Recovery, and Adolescent Relationships in Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower: An In-Depth Analysis Rachel Rosen

The Role of Vocal Development Patterns: Predicting Neurogenetic Risk in Infancy Using Early Vocal Development and Sex Alyssa Cregg, Rachel Siela, Olivia Battaglia, Kaylee Bobay, Madison Chin, Athena Fordwor, Conghao Gao, Deeksha Handa, Erin Lee, Tiernan McDivitt, Grace Strabala, Victoria Tuell, and Laurel Williams

Biodiesel Transesterification of Spent Coffee Grounds Using DBU as a Catalyst: Using DBU to Make Biodiesel from Coffee Grounds Christopher Stepherson, Pericles Karras, Amy Ha, Phuc Tan Nguyen, Abigail Pati, Jacob Hejazi, Soheil Hussain, Elizabeth De Young, and Shuaicheng Fu

Sales of Cage-Free Eggs: The Impact of Proposition 12 on Egg Prices and Consumer Welfare in California Mingcong Xie

Research Snapshots

Dining Out Behavior in China and the Implications in the Post-COVID-19 Era Ji Yong Kwon

Evaluating the Efficacy of IPM Strategies Against Insect Pests of Collards Elliott Masterson

Laboratory Screening of Sorghum Lines for Incompatibility: A Postattachment Resistance Mechanism to the Parasitic Weed Striga hermonthica Cameron Matthews

Gossypium hirsutum as a Study Species to Understand Plant Responses to Drought Stress Sam Schafer

Lake Michigan Shoreline Landowner Survey Colby Smock

Tourism Insights: ESG in Lodging and Hospitality Emily Cassanmagnago

Monon Neighborhood Livability Study Abigail Dimmick

UPLeft: Pick Up Leftovers, Uplift Those in Need Veronica Galles

To Innovate or Integrate: A Story of Mergers and Acquisitions in the Video Game Industry Charlie Geis and Dustin Rabin

Standard Improvements to Policy for Maintaining a High Leasing Rate on Commercial Properties Scott Morical

Microfinancing and Entrepreneurship in Cocoa Refinement in Côte d’Ivoire Erin Soro

“We Flourish”: The Role of BIPOC Parents in Diversifying Children’s Literature Kayla Neal

Liquid Nitrogen Shrink-Fitting Process Natalie Harvey

Smartphone Color Error Analysis Mackenna Hawes

Is Northwest Indiana Prepared to Be a “Climate Haven”? Luke Carl Jorgensen

Changes in Russian Media Language in Turbulent Times Evan Landau

Design and Development of an Inert Controlled Environmental Chamber for Evaluation of Contaminant Mass Transfer Brian Magnuson and Zachary Limaye

Tree Localization in a Plantation Using Ultra Wideband Signals Akshat Verma

Developmental Atrazine Exposure Modifies Expression of Synucleins Isabelle Akoro

Active Herbicide Ingredients in Roundup Ready Xtend Products, Glyphosate and Dicamba, Results in Hypoactivity in Zebrafish Larvae When Exposed During Development Ryker Bond

Analyzing Health Care Delivery Costs from 2011 to 2020 in the Emergency Departments and Overall Hospital Costs Jacob A. Corey

Formulation of Preservation Solutions for Model Generation with In Vivo Tissue Morphology Holly Pickett

Comparing Effects of Atrazine Exposure on Neuroendocrine Molecular Targets at Two Developmental Exposure Periods in the Zebrafish Jenna Swihart

Monitoring of Caucasus Heritage Sites Facing Cultural Genocide Peyton Edelbrock

Laughter and Madness: The Comic Horror of Evil Dead II David Gowan

Examining the Examiner: An Amicus Brief on Conflicts Between Forensic Technology and Indigenous Religious Freedoms in Favor of Virtual Autopsies Peyton James

Efficacy of the Pedagogical, Cultural, and Advocacy Programming at Purdue University Asian American and Asian Resource and Cultural Center Michael Kuczajda

American Foreign Policy and Public Opinion of the Crimean War (1853–1856) Anurag Shah

The Effects of Wildfire Aerosol Emissions on Air Quality Emma Braun and Audrey Shirley

Model Selection Through Cross-Validation for Supervised Learning Tasks with Manifold Data Derek Brown

Exploring the Evolution of Callose Synthase in Green Plants Giovanna Durante

The Cross-Linguistic and Cross-Situational Association Between Accentedness and Its Impact as Rated by Speakers Makaila Groves

Toward Improved Global Food Security: Uncovering How Tomatoes Fight Root-Knot Nematodes Chingyan H. Huang

Does Having Air Conditioning Affect Friendship Formation in the First Two Months of College? Zachariah Hunt

The Impact of Accessible Data on Cyberstalking Elise Kwan

NeuroArt: Presenting a Tool for Self-Regulation Emma Niecikowski

Promises and Risks of Applying AI Medical Imaging to Early Detection of Cancers, and Regulation for AI Medical Imaging Yiyao Zhang

Out of the Box

Digitizing Delphi: Educating Audiences Through Virtual Reconstruction Kate Koury

Interview: Bethany McGowan and Matthew Hannah Catie Gilhooly

Interview: Michael Kirchner Catie Gilhooly

Alumni Spotlights

Alumni Spotlight: Chufan Gao

Alumni Spotlight: Caleb Hettinger

Alumni Spotlight: Emerald Obie

Alumni Spotlight: Emma Wallens

Cover Image Research Summary

Back Matter

Dr. Krystal R. Hans and undergraduate student researchers in the Hans Lab (courtesy of Purdue University/John Underwood).

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Benefits of Publishing Undergraduate Scholarship 

• Although undergraduate work explores most of the research cycle, it often fails to address the dissemination aspect of scholarship. This is an opportunity to participate in the dissemination process and round out your experience working with the entire research cycle.
• Future employers value examples of an applicant’s ability to research, analyze, and synthesize. Published works can provide a powerful example of these traits to future employers.
• Examples of published outputs are impressive on graduate school applications.
• Published works such as these represent successes in networking with professors and other researchers—also valued by graduate schools and future employers.
• Published works demonstrate initiative and leadership.

(Provided by:  Nina Collins , Purdue Scholarly Publishing Specialist)

Purdue Undergraduate Publishing Opportunities

The  Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research (JPUR)  has been established to publish outstanding research papers written by Purdue undergraduates from all disciplines who have completed faculty-mentored research projects. The journal is run by students, but behind the scenes is a unique partnership between Purdue University Press and other departments of Purdue University Libraries, working with Purdue Marketing and Media and the Writing Lab, based in the Department of English. Publication of JPUR is sponsored by the Office of the Provost at Purdue University.  Click here to access JPUR

The  Purdue Journal of Service-Learning (PJSL) , a multi-disciplinary Open Access journal available in print and online, is dedicated to students who conduct projects with strong service-learning and academic civic engagement aspects. By involving students in an intensive writing activity and showcasing the opportunities available at Purdue, the journal will enhance the use and effectiveness of the pedagogy of service-learning as a high-impact learning methodology.  Click here to access PJSL

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An Undergraduate's Guide to Funding and Publishing Research

• URECA and other SBU Research Programs and Opportunities
• Funding Your Research
• Publishing Your Research: Why and How?
• Publishing Your Research: List of Undergraduate Journals

Why publish?

Writing and publishing an article can be a difficult and time-consuming process. How might you know if it will be worth the time and energy? Here are some reasons why undergraduates might want to consider publishing their work:

• Improve your writing, research, and time management skills
• Experience the scholarly publishing process
• Build connections with students, mentors, faculty, staff and other researchers who share your interests
• Demonstrate your dedication to sticking with a long term project outside of class time
• Add a layer of professionalism to your student experiences
• Show off your writing, research, and time management skills!

This list is adapted from Anna Trammell's " The Benefits of Publishing as an Undergraduate " (University of Illinois, 2014)

How to Choose a Journal

Sometimes, half the battle of getting published is simply finding a journal that is a good match . Reviewers often reject an article not necessarily because of the quality of the work, but because the work does not fit within the scope of the publication. It can pay off to put substantial effort into selecting the right journal to submit your work to.

There is a lot to consider when choosing a publication! Here are some things to think about:

• Get advice from your mentor, a librarian, or other supportive experts. Those with special knowledge in your field or with experience helping undergraduates publish their work will likely know of publications that other students have had success with and will help you know what to look for.
• Are you eligible to submit to this journal? Some journals might have restrictions based on degree level, institution, citizenship, or residency.
• Is there a specific disciplinary focus or is the journal multidisciplinary?
• Do submissions require that you have a faculty mentor?
• Is it peer-reviewed? If yes, are the reviewers students, faculty, or a mix?
• Is there an Advisory Board and/or Editorial Board?
• Is it open access? If no, where is it indexed? How will others access your work?
• Most journals don't have a publishing fee, but some do. Double check whether or not there's a fee.
• Do you like the presentation, readability, and access of the journal? For example, are all the articles available as free pdf downloads, or is there a specific web platform or service that hosts the articles?
• Is there a consistent style / structure to all the articles, or are they each very different from each other?
• Is there a single genre or a mix? Are they essays, studies, critical reviews? Does the journal only publish original research, or does it also accept creative work such as artwork and short stories?
• Does the tone, content, style, approach, and rigor of the research in the journal seem to be a good match to your own work?
• In all cases, consider submitting a copy of your work to SBU's repository, the Academic Commons . This is a platform that hosts materials that are openly available to all.

Carefully Review the Submission Guidelines

After you've chosen a journal that you feel is an excellent match for your research, you will need to carefully review the submission guidelines . Look for the following elements in the guidelines when preparing your article for submission:

• Is it required that you have a faculty mentor or formal letter of recommendation with your submission? 
• Is there a required citation style (for example, MLA or APA)? If the journal is multidisciplinary, it might allow for whatever citation style is appropriate for your subject area.
• Is there a fixed submission deadline, or is it a rolling deadline (meaning you can submit at any time)?
• Are there any particular criteria listed? How do the reviewers decide whether to publish the article?
• How strict are the format guidelines? How many pages, what file format (.doc, .pdf, etc), font, spacing, and other stylistic elements?
• Are you required to also submit an abstract or keywords?
• Are simultaneous submissions allowed? That is, does the journal allow you to submit to more than one journal at once?
• Once your work is published, are you allowed to resubmit the work to another journal? If yes, will you be required to recognize the journal as the first publication before republishing somewhere else?
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A national, peer reviewed, multidisciplinary research journal

American Journal of Undergraduate Research (AJUR) is a national, independent, faculty peer-reviewed, open-source, quarterly, multidisciplinary student research journal, established in 2002. Our mission is to peer-review, publish on the web and in print, and index scholarly and creative manuscripts written by undergraduates and with undergraduates’ participation, at no cost to authors. The journal is indexed internationally by EBSCO and Crossref , and each manuscript receives a DOI number.  AJUR ‘s entire content, by invitation, is archived by the United States Library of Congress .  AJUR makes a unique contribution because of the high standards for content, rigorous review process, and ease of accessibility to the public and professionals. It accepts submissions from outside the United States, provided the submissions would be of broad interest to US and international readers. AJUR ’s print ISSN is 1536-4585 and the web ISSN is 2375-8732. The editorial board of AJUR consists of approximately sixty professional subject editors in a wide variety of fields. Printed copies are available in the special collections section of Penfield Library . Up-to-date information about AJUR can be found at  https://ajuronline.org/ .

The submission publishing process, our expectations, and the editorial workflow are described at the “ Submissions and Review ” link button above. You may see AJUR’s   Current Issue  or Archives  by clicking the corresponding links/buttons above. Please read more about the  AJUR  and see our editorial board using the “ History and Editors ” link.

Please consider being a sponsor of AJUR , a not-for-profit organization. Thank you for your interest and for your support of undergraduate research.

Any questions? Please check our Q&A page. To reach the editor of AJUR, send an e-mail to ajureditor[at]gmail.com

Publish Your Research

Looking for a place to publish your research as an undergraduate?

Consider publishing in UNC’s own undergraduate research journal,  UNC JOURney . Submissions are usually accepted and reviewed early in the Spring semester.

Are you interested in writing about the research of others?  Carolina Scientific  is an undergraduate student organization whose mission is to produce a news magazine focusing on the exciting innovations and research that are going on at UNC-Chapel Hill in the fields of biology, chemistry, and physics. Ultimately, our goal is to educate and inform students on the different research labs at UNC while helping students become more involved in undergraduate research. **Important: you do not have to be currently involved in undergraduate research to write for Carolina Scientific! For more information on how to become a staff writer or how to get involved with production and layout, please email [email protected] .

The links below will lead you to more information about peer-reviewed research journals focusing on undergraduate research, scholarship and creative work.

Interdisciplinary »

• Confluence  (Humanities); Varies
• Dignity: The Premier UNC System Undergraduate Human Rights Journal
• Discussions: Undergraduate Research Journal of CWRU
• Health Humanities Journal
• Journal of Student Research
• Journal of Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Excellence
• Journal of Young Investigators; Rolling Submissions
• McGill Journal of Medicine; February 21st
• Papers & Publications: Interdisciplinary Journal of Undergraduate Research
• Penn Bioethics Journal; February 14th
• People, Ideas, and Things (PIT) Journal; Varies
• Perspectives on Undergraduate Research and Mentoring; March 15 (for primary consideration)
• Philologia ; mid-September
• Pittsburgh Undergraduate Review; Rolling Submissions
• Pursuit: The Journal of Undergraduate Research at the University of Tennessee
• Reinvention: an International Journal of Undergraduate Research
• Undergraduate Journal of Service Learning and Community-Based Research

General Science »

• Columbia Undergraduate Science Journal ; See website
• eUndergraduate Research  (Analytical Science Digital Library); Rolling

Chemistry »

• Journal of Undergraduate Chemistry Research ; Rolling Submissions

Economics »

• Issues in Political Economy ; January 15th
• Undergraduate Economic Review ; Varies

English and Creative Writing »

• Allegheny Review ; December 1st
• Digital Literature Review
• Public Writing: A Cultural Studies Journal for Undergraduate Writers ; Rolling Submissions
• Young Scholars in Writing: Undergraduate Research in Writing and Rhetoric

Geography »

• Geographical Bulletin ; Varies

Global Affairs »

• The Internationalist ; rolling submissions. Also has opportunities for UNC students to participate in editing.

Traces: The UNC-Chapel Hill Journal of History

• Rose Hulman Institute of Technology Undergraduate Math Journal ; Spring: March 15th, Fall: September 15
• Furman University E Journal of Undergraduate Math ; Rolling Submissions

Philosophy »

• Aporia; Fall – Mid September, Spring – February 3rd
• Dualist , January
• Journal of Undergraduate Research in Physics ; Rolling Submissions

Political Science »

• University of Michigan Journal of Political Science ; Rolling Submissions
• Yale Political Quarterly; Rolling Submissions

Psychology »

• Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research ; Rolling Submissions
• Journal of Psychological Inquiry ; Rolling Submissions
• The Yale Review of Undergraduate Research in Psychology ; Submissions due in April

Women and Gender Studies »

• Feminist Spaces
• Sprinkle: an undergraduate journal of feminist and queer studies

• Back Issues

Berkeley undergraduate journal

Established in 1987..., the berkeley undergraduate journal is the oldest undergraduate research journal at uc berkeley..

undergraduate scholarship

Biannually, the BUJ publishes carefully reviewed and edited scholarly work from the humanities and social sciences, highlighting the strength of undergraduate scholarship on the UC Berkeley campus.

BY AND FOR STUDENTS

Undergraduate editors read and review undergraduate authors’ submissions to the journal, edit accepted papers, and publish them on the University of California’s eScholarship website. The BUJ therefore offers undergraduates the chance to both convey their ideas to a broader university audience and to hone and polish their writing and editing skills.

INTELLECTUAL COMMUNITY

By publishing undergraduate theses or independent research papers, and by collaborating with university faculty and administration, the BUJ helps to integrate undergraduates into our university’s intellectual community.

Latest issue

The Spring 2023 Issue is now published!

Check out our previous issues, which are available online.

Join our editorial board, what will you gain as a member of the buj editorial board.

As a member of our Editorial Board, you will receive training in the fundamentals of editing and gain invaluable opportunities for continued learning in the field of editing and publishing.

Not only do you get the privilege of reading the academic theses of fellow UC Berkeley undergraduate students, but you also get to review these papers and make important editorial decisions regarding which pieces to publish.

Each of our editors brings to the table an excellent work ethic, a positive attitude, a collaborative mindset, and a willingness to learn. Editors who showcase exceptional passion and dedication in furthering the goals of the BUJ have the chance to be selected for leadership positions (Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Layout Editor, Publicity Manager).

Contact our Editor-in-Chief  if you’re interested in joining our editorial board.

STAFF APPLICATION FOR FALL 2024

Please check back! We will post an Interest Form later in 2024.

GET TRAINED IN CHICAGO STYLE!

Learn and master the essentials of editing

EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH AUTHORS AND FELLOW EDITORS!

Collaborate with others while turning selected submissions into polished pieces

GET TRAINED IN LAYOUT AND DESIGN!

As a layout editor, gain valuable skills in Illustrator, InDesign, etc.

Meet the people who work with staff editors and university staff to ensure excellence within the BUJ.

RAZ SAZONOVA

Editor-in-Chief, Primary Contact

NIKHIL JAGOTA

Managing Editor

KEILA DIEHL

Staff Advisor

Senior Editor

ABISIKA JEGATHEESWARAN

“When we honor the University of California, we celebrate with good reason its academic renown, its impressive list of Nobel Laureates, its contributions to the sciences and the humanities…. Whatever the high rankings of Berkeley’s graduate schools, the undergraduates remain the principal strength of the University; the curiosity they bring to the classroom and the culture of discourse in which they participate is its life blood. In that spirit, I welcome Berkeley Undergraduate Journal, as a means of preserving and extending the commitment of Berkeley students to intellectual inquiry, to asking the most uncomfortable questions, to insulting proprieties, to questioning and shaking beliefs, institutions and systems of long standing, and, if necessary, to disturbing the peace. Of the many traditions of this campus, these are the most precious, and I expect this journal to advance and nourish them.”

Leon F. Litwack

A. & M. Morrison Professor of History

do you have a general question, not regarding submissions?

If so, please write to us below. we ask that you don't fill out this form for questions regarding submissions , as this reveals your identity to the editorial board and negates the policy of blind submissions..

University of California, Berkeley Berkeley Undergraduate Journal Office of Undergraduate Research 2422 Dwinelle Hall Berkeley, CA 94720-2940

Regarding submission policies and procedures: [email protected]

No phone! It’s the 21st century!

We are a student group acting independently of the University of California. We take full responsibility for our organization and this website.

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Journal of Student Research

Journal of Student Research (JSR) is an Academic, Multidisciplinary, and Faculty-reviewed Journal (Houston, Texas) devoted to the Rapid Dissemination of Current Research Published by High School Edition , Undergraduate and Graduate students.

Articles Indexed in Scholarly Databases

The journal seeks articles that are novel, integrative, and accessible to a broad audience, including an array of disciplines. The content of the journal ranges from Applied research to Theoretical research. In general, papers on all topics are welcome to submit. The journal uses an automated process from manuscript submission to publication. Manuscript submission, peer review, and publication are all handled online, and the journal automates all clerical steps during peer review.

Trusted By Student Authors Globally

Focus and Scope

Students strive to be successful at publications, and with JSR, authors aspiring to publish will receive scholarly feedback after the reviews of their submissions are received. This feedback will help authors identify areas of improvement to their submission and help them better understand the process to be successful at publication. Once published, we strive to provide a global platform for our authors to showcase their work.

Faculty-Refereed Review Process

This journal uses a double-blind review, which means that both the reviewer and author identities are concealed from the reviewers, and vice versa, throughout the review process. Authors need to ensure that their manuscripts do not give away their identity to facilitate this. To find out more about the review process, please visit the  Author Guidelines  page. We invite teachers and faculty interested in reviewing articles for this journal; please visit our  Reviewers  page for more information.

Open Access Policy

This journal provides access to its published content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. Learn more about  Open Access .

Authors Retain Copyright

Articles published in this journal are under a  Creative Commons License , and the authors retain the copyright to their work.

Announcements

Call for papers: volume 13 issue 4.

If you are an undergraduate or graduate student at a college or university aspiring to publish, we are accepting submissions. Submit Your Article Now!

Deadline: 11:59 p.m. August 31, 2024

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Home » How to Publish a Research Paper – Step by Step Guide

How to Publish a Research Paper – Step by Step Guide

Table of Contents

Publishing a research paper is an important step for researchers to disseminate their findings to a wider audience and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in their field. Whether you are a graduate student, a postdoctoral fellow, or an established researcher, publishing a paper requires careful planning, rigorous research, and clear writing. In this process, you will need to identify a research question , conduct a thorough literature review , design a methodology, analyze data, and draw conclusions. Additionally, you will need to consider the appropriate journals or conferences to submit your work to and adhere to their guidelines for formatting and submission. In this article, we will discuss some ways to publish your Research Paper.

How to Publish a Research Paper

To Publish a Research Paper follow the guide below:

• Conduct original research : Conduct thorough research on a specific topic or problem. Collect data, analyze it, and draw conclusions based on your findings.
• Write the paper : Write a detailed paper describing your research. It should include an abstract, introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion.
• Choose a suitable journal or conference : Look for a journal or conference that specializes in your research area. You can check their submission guidelines to ensure your paper meets their requirements.
• Prepare your submission: Follow the guidelines and prepare your submission, including the paper, abstract, cover letter, and any other required documents.
• Submit the paper: Submit your paper online through the journal or conference website. Make sure you meet the submission deadline.
• Peer-review process : Your paper will be reviewed by experts in the field who will provide feedback on the quality of your research, methodology, and conclusions.
• Revisions : Based on the feedback you receive, revise your paper and resubmit it.
• Acceptance : Once your paper is accepted, you will receive a notification from the journal or conference. You may need to make final revisions before the paper is published.
• Publication : Your paper will be published online or in print. You can also promote your work through social media or other channels to increase its visibility.

How to Choose Journal for Research Paper Publication

Here are some steps to follow to help you select an appropriate journal:

• Identify your research topic and audience : Your research topic and intended audience should guide your choice of journal. Identify the key journals in your field of research and read the scope and aim of the journal to determine if your paper is a good fit.
• Analyze the journal’s impact and reputation : Check the impact factor and ranking of the journal, as well as its acceptance rate and citation frequency. A high-impact journal can give your paper more visibility and credibility.
• Consider the journal’s publication policies : Look for the journal’s publication policies such as the word count limit, formatting requirements, open access options, and submission fees. Make sure that you can comply with the requirements and that the journal is in line with your publication goals.
• Look at recent publications : Review recent issues of the journal to evaluate whether your paper would fit in with the journal’s current content and style.
• Seek advice from colleagues and mentors: Ask for recommendations and suggestions from your colleagues and mentors in your field, especially those who have experience publishing in the same or similar journals.
• Be prepared to make changes : Be prepared to revise your paper according to the requirements and guidelines of the chosen journal. It is also important to be open to feedback from the editor and reviewers.

List of Journals for Research Paper Publications

There are thousands of academic journals covering various fields of research. Here are some of the most popular ones, categorized by field:

General/Multidisciplinary

• Nature: https://www.nature.com/
• Science: https://www.sciencemag.org/
• PLOS ONE: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/
• Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS): https://www.pnas.org/
• The Lancet: https://www.thelancet.com/
• JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association): https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama

Social Sciences/Humanities

• Journal of Personality and Social Psychology: https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/psp
• Journal of Consumer Research: https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/journals/jcr
• Journal of Educational Psychology: https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/edu
• Journal of Applied Psychology: https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/apl
• Journal of Communication: https://academic.oup.com/joc
• American Journal of Political Science: https://ajps.org/
• Journal of International Business Studies: https://www.jibs.net/
• Journal of Marketing Research: https://www.ama.org/journal-of-marketing-research/

Natural Sciences

• Journal of Biological Chemistry: https://www.jbc.org/
• Cell: https://www.cell.com/
• Science Advances: https://advances.sciencemag.org/
• Chemical Reviews: https://pubs.acs.org/journal/chreay
• Angewandte Chemie: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/15213765
• Physical Review Letters: https://journals.aps.org/prl/
• Journal of Geophysical Research: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/2156531X
• Journal of High Energy Physics: https://link.springer.com/journal/13130

Engineering/Technology

• IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/RecentIssue.jsp?punumber=5962385
• IEEE Transactions on Power Systems: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/RecentIssue.jsp?punumber=59
• IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/RecentIssue.jsp?punumber=42
• IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/RecentIssue.jsp?punumber=87
• Journal of Engineering Mechanics: https://ascelibrary.org/journal/jenmdt
• Journal of Materials Science: https://www.springer.com/journal/10853
• Journal of Chemical Engineering of Japan: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/browse/jcej
• Journal of Mechanical Design: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/mechanicaldesign

Medical/Health Sciences

• New England Journal of Medicine: https://www.nejm.org/
• The BMJ (formerly British Medical Journal): https://www.bmj.com/
• Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA): https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama
• Annals of Internal Medicine: https://www.acpjournals.org/journal/aim
• American Journal of Epidemiology: https://academic.oup.com/aje
• Journal of Clinical Oncology: https://ascopubs.org/journal/jco
• Journal of Infectious Diseases: https://academic.oup.com/jid

List of Conferences for Research Paper Publications

There are many conferences that accept research papers for publication. The specific conferences you should consider will depend on your field of research. Here are some suggestions for conferences in a few different fields:

Computer Science and Information Technology:

• IEEE International Conference on Computer Communications (INFOCOM): https://www.ieee-infocom.org/
• ACM SIGCOMM Conference on Data Communication: https://conferences.sigcomm.org/sigcomm/
• IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy (SP): https://www.ieee-security.org/TC/SP/
• ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security (CCS): https://www.sigsac.org/ccs/
• ACM Conference on Human-Computer Interaction (CHI): https://chi2022.acm.org/

Engineering:

• IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA): https://www.ieee-icra.org/
• International Conference on Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (ICMAE): http://www.icmae.org/
• International Conference on Civil and Environmental Engineering (ICCEE): http://www.iccee.org/
• International Conference on Materials Science and Engineering (ICMSE): http://www.icmse.org/
• International Conference on Energy and Power Engineering (ICEPE): http://www.icepe.org/

Natural Sciences:

• American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition: https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/meetings/national-meeting.html
• American Physical Society March Meeting: https://www.aps.org/meetings/march/
• International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology (ICEST): http://www.icest.org/
• International Conference on Natural Science and Environment (ICNSE): http://www.icnse.org/
• International Conference on Life Science and Biological Engineering (LSBE): http://www.lsbe.org/

Social Sciences:

• Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association (ASA): https://www.asanet.org/annual-meeting-2022
• International Conference on Social Science and Humanities (ICSSH): http://www.icssh.org/
• International Conference on Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (ICPBS): http://www.icpbs.org/
• International Conference on Education and Social Science (ICESS): http://www.icess.org/
• International Conference on Management and Information Science (ICMIS): http://www.icmis.org/

How to Publish a Research Paper in Journal

Publishing a research paper in a journal is a crucial step in disseminating scientific knowledge and contributing to the field. Here are the general steps to follow:

• Choose a research topic : Select a topic of your interest and identify a research question or problem that you want to investigate. Conduct a literature review to identify the gaps in the existing knowledge that your research will address.
• Conduct research : Develop a research plan and methodology to collect data and conduct experiments. Collect and analyze data to draw conclusions that address the research question.
• Write a paper: Organize your findings into a well-structured paper with clear and concise language. Your paper should include an introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion. Use academic language and provide references for your sources.
• Choose a journal: Choose a journal that is relevant to your research topic and audience. Consider factors such as impact factor, acceptance rate, and the reputation of the journal.
• Follow journal guidelines : Review the submission guidelines and formatting requirements of the journal. Follow the guidelines carefully to ensure that your paper meets the journal’s requirements.
• Submit your paper : Submit your paper to the journal through the online submission system or by email. Include a cover letter that briefly explains the significance of your research and why it is suitable for the journal.
• Wait for reviews: Your paper will be reviewed by experts in the field. Be prepared to address their comments and make revisions to your paper.
• Revise and resubmit: Make revisions to your paper based on the reviewers’ comments and resubmit it to the journal. If your paper is accepted, congratulations! If not, consider revising and submitting it to another journal.
• Address reviewer comments : Reviewers may provide comments and suggestions for revisions to your paper. Address these comments carefully and thoughtfully to improve the quality of your paper.
• Submit the final version: Once your revisions are complete, submit the final version of your paper to the journal. Be sure to follow any additional formatting guidelines and requirements provided by the journal.
• Publication : If your paper is accepted, it will be published in the journal. Some journals provide online publication while others may publish a print version. Be sure to cite your published paper in future research and communicate your findings to the scientific community.

How to Publish a Research Paper for Students

Here are some steps you can follow to publish a research paper as an Under Graduate or a High School Student:

• Select a topic: Choose a topic that is relevant and interesting to you, and that you have a good understanding of.
• Conduct research : Gather information and data on your chosen topic through research, experiments, surveys, or other means.
• Write the paper : Start with an outline, then write the introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion sections of the paper. Be sure to follow any guidelines provided by your instructor or the journal you plan to submit to.
• Edit and revise: Review your paper for errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Ask a peer or mentor to review your paper and provide feedback for improvement.
• Choose a journal : Look for journals that publish papers in your field of study and that are appropriate for your level of research. Some popular journals for students include PLOS ONE, Nature, and Science.
• Submit the paper: Follow the submission guidelines for the journal you choose, which typically include a cover letter, abstract, and formatting requirements. Be prepared to wait several weeks to months for a response.
• Address feedback : If your paper is accepted with revisions, address the feedback from the reviewers and resubmit your paper. If your paper is rejected, review the feedback and consider revising and resubmitting to a different journal.

How to Publish a Research Paper for Free

Publishing a research paper for free can be challenging, but it is possible. Here are some steps you can take to publish your research paper for free:

• Choose a suitable open-access journal: Look for open-access journals that are relevant to your research area. Open-access journals allow readers to access your paper without charge, so your work will be more widely available.
• Check the journal’s reputation : Before submitting your paper, ensure that the journal is reputable by checking its impact factor, publication history, and editorial board.
• Follow the submission guidelines : Every journal has specific guidelines for submitting papers. Make sure to follow these guidelines carefully to increase the chances of acceptance.
• Submit your paper : Once you have completed your research paper, submit it to the journal following their submission guidelines.
• Wait for the review process: Your paper will undergo a peer-review process, where experts in your field will evaluate your work. Be patient during this process, as it can take several weeks or even months.
• Revise your paper : If your paper is rejected, don’t be discouraged. Revise your paper based on the feedback you receive from the reviewers and submit it to another open-access journal.
• Promote your research: Once your paper is published, promote it on social media and other online platforms. This will increase the visibility of your work and help it reach a wider audience.

Journals and Conferences for Free Research Paper publications

Here are the websites of the open-access journals and conferences mentioned:

Open-Access Journals:

• PLOS ONE – https://journals.plos.org/plosone/
• BMC Research Notes – https://bmcresnotes.biomedcentral.com/
• Frontiers in… – https://www.frontiersin.org/
• Journal of Open Research Software – https://openresearchsoftware.metajnl.com/
• PeerJ – https://peerj.com/

Conferences:

• IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM) – https://globecom2022.ieee-globecom.org/
• IEEE International Conference on Computer Communications (INFOCOM) – https://infocom2022.ieee-infocom.org/
• IEEE International Conference on Data Mining (ICDM) – https://www.ieee-icdm.org/
• ACM SIGCOMM Conference on Data Communication (SIGCOMM) – https://conferences.sigcomm.org/sigcomm/
• ACM Conference on Computer and Communications Security (CCS) – https://www.sigsac.org/ccs/CCS2022/

Importance of Research Paper Publication

Research paper publication is important for several reasons, both for individual researchers and for the scientific community as a whole. Here are some reasons why:

• Advancing scientific knowledge : Research papers provide a platform for researchers to present their findings and contribute to the body of knowledge in their field. These papers often contain novel ideas, experimental data, and analyses that can help to advance scientific understanding.
• Building a research career : Publishing research papers is an essential component of building a successful research career. Researchers are often evaluated based on the number and quality of their publications, and having a strong publication record can increase one’s chances of securing funding, tenure, or a promotion.
• Peer review and quality control: Publication in a peer-reviewed journal means that the research has been scrutinized by other experts in the field. This peer review process helps to ensure the quality and validity of the research findings.
• Recognition and visibility : Publishing a research paper can bring recognition and visibility to the researchers and their work. It can lead to invitations to speak at conferences, collaborations with other researchers, and media coverage.
• Impact on society : Research papers can have a significant impact on society by informing policy decisions, guiding clinical practice, and advancing technological innovation.

Advantages of Research Paper Publication

There are several advantages to publishing a research paper, including:

• Recognition: Publishing a research paper allows researchers to gain recognition for their work, both within their field and in the academic community as a whole. This can lead to new collaborations, invitations to conferences, and other opportunities to share their research with a wider audience.
• Career advancement : A strong publication record can be an important factor in career advancement, particularly in academia. Publishing research papers can help researchers secure funding, grants, and promotions.
• Dissemination of knowledge : Research papers are an important way to share new findings and ideas with the broader scientific community. By publishing their research, scientists can contribute to the collective body of knowledge in their field and help advance scientific understanding.
• Feedback and peer review : Publishing a research paper allows other experts in the field to provide feedback on the research, which can help improve the quality of the work and identify potential flaws or limitations. Peer review also helps ensure that research is accurate and reliable.
• Citation and impact : Published research papers can be cited by other researchers, which can help increase the impact and visibility of the research. High citation rates can also help establish a researcher’s reputation and credibility within their field.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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Publishing Your Work

There are many journals specific to undergraduate economics students who accept publications. These are a great way to begin your career in research, and/or receive additional feedback on your work.

We encourage you to work with a Economics Professor on an Independent Study project, possibly exploring a concept within one of their classes, or a topic of interest.

The below is a compiling of journals and publications students may consider.

The Stanford Economic Review  is Stanford’s only undergraduate economics publication. For almost a decade, we have published incredible empirical research papers from undergraduate students across the globe, serving as a medium to amplify the voices of some of the world’s brightest minds. Since 2021, our publication has also been accepting qualitative pieces about modern economic issues for the commentary section of our website

We are currently accepting submissions for the Winter 2022-2023 issue of our research journal - the application deadline is December 15, 2022. As for commentary submissions, we will review these pieces on a rolling basis throughout the year, so feel free to submit at any time! Commentaries may take the form of either “short-form” (500-1000 words) or “long-form” (1800-7500 words) articles. Please see the “Submit” section of our website  for more details about the submission requirements, and please reach out to us at [email protected]  if you have any thoughts, comments, questions, or concerns. We look forward to reviewing your work!

Papers and Presentations

Main navigation, presenting at a conference provides many opportunities to professionalize your work.

• Develop the skill to write succinctly about your work in a compelling way.
• Receive valuable feedback on your presentation.
• Learn about the latest developments in your field or discipline.
• Meet your peers and other researchers from different schools and learn about possible graduate programs.

Talk to your faculty mentor about submitting abstracts to appropriate conferences in your field.

Undergraduate Research Student Grants support students presenting their work at peer reviewed scholarly conferences. Learn more about Undergraduate Research Conference Grants  here .

Publishing a paper

Complete your independent project by writing a research paper, for possible submission to journals at Stanford or outside Stanford. You may also consider presenting your work in more accessible forms in newspapers, magazines, radio, and on the web.

Seek recommendations from your faculty mentor about the appropriate outlet for your work.

Consider the opportunities for publication offered by the  Stanford Undergraduate Research Journal  and other student journals on campus.

Volunteer Project Presentation

Undergraduate Research also encourages current student volunteers to present their project posters or to speak about their project experiences to students who are not yet engaged in these pursuits. Some of these info session events may be dorm presentations with Undergraduate Research staff, and you may like to consider contributing especially to your first year or sophomore year dorms. Please indicate the sites where you would like to give such a presentation. You will be playing a part in guiding students as they explore their interests and begin their own independent projects!

Stanford Publications

Main navigation, contexts: undergraduate anthropology journal.

“Contexts is an annual publication comprised of scholarly articles and reviews (book, film, art, and event reviews) written by Stanford undergraduates in all academic fields. The mission of Contexts is to provide a forum for students to share, discuss, and reflect upon social issues in a manner that demonstrates anthropological thought and modes of inquiry. CONTEXTS is published electronically on the web, with print issues released annually. For current as well as previous issues of undergrad journal, please see Undergrad Journal. For question, comments or to get involved please visit contexts.Stanford.edu or email  [email protected] ”

The Cutting Edge: Stanford’s Undergraduate Education Research Journal 

The Cutting Edge is Stanford University's undergraduate educational research journal. It is a platform where students can publish their research papers, opinions, fictional works, or other pieces pertaining to education.  Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis, and we are looking for all sorts of stories with an educational focus. Find submission guidelines here .

Embodied is an interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed journal focusing on themes of feminism, gender, and sexuality. Founded in 2021, Embodied is a student-run initiative dedicated to facilitating discussion, inquiry, and scholarship in this historically overlooked field. The journal publishes original research, as well as academic papers, features, editorials, creative writing, and multimedia pieces. It welcomes submissions from undergraduates and co-terminal students at all academic institutions. Submission is not exclusive to Stanford affiliates.

Grace: Global Review of AI Community Ethics

GRACE: Global Review of AI Community Ethics is a new peer-reviewed, international journal at Stanford University, funded by the NSF. An open-access journal, indexed in Google Scholar, GRACE offers a unique intellectual forum for AI Ethics practitioners to share their work.

Herodotus Journal

“This journal is dedicating to preserving and showcasing the best undergraduate work of Stanford University's Department of History, selected through a process of peer review.”

Intersect: The Stanford Journal of Science, Technology and Society

“Intersect is an international Science, Technology, and Society research journal run by undergraduate students at Stanford University and supported by the Program in STS. It welcomes undergraduate, graduate, and PhD submissions at the intersection of history, culture, sociology, art, literature, business, law, health, and design with science and technology. The journal's submissions are not exclusive to Stanford affiliates and generally span several continents. Several students have published revisions of their PWR 1 RBAs in this journal, including  Max David Mellin  and  Cindy Zang Liu . Intersect publishes three times during each academic year at Stanford: at the end of Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarters. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis.”

Machina , Symbolic Systems Journal

This isn’t exactly your classic academic journal. We’re looking for high quality submissions that excite people about SymSys and SymSys-related topics – your well-written PHIL 182 class paper, an excerpt from your short story about the metaverse, your art, etc!

Probe Magazine

“Probe is a student-run, peer-edited journal that publishes work at the intersection of biology, art, and technology. Topics may include but are not limited: debates in bioscience, biological breakthroughs, and medical technology.”

“Rewired is a digital magazine where technology and society meet. We're committed to curating stories that amplify diverse perspectives and bridge disciplines. We're a community of Stanford undergrads and postdocs in fields ranging from philosophy to anthropology to political science. Together, we're leading a cultural shift in the way Stanford thinks about technology.”

Stanford Economic Review

“The Stanford Economic Review is Stanford University’s only undergraduate economics publication. For almost a decade, we have published incredible empirical research papers from undergraduate students across the globe, serving as a medium to amplify the voices of some of the world’s brightest minds. Since 2021, our publication has also been accepting qualitative pieces about modern economic issues for the commentary section of our website. We publish one journal issue each academic year and publish commentary pieces on our website throughout the year. Please see the ‘Submit’ section of our website for more details about the submission requirements, and please reach out to us at  [email protected]  if you have any thoughts, comments, questions, or concerns.”

Stanford Journal of Public Health

The Stanford Journal of Public Health (SJPH) is an annual, student-led publication centered at Stanford University dedicated to connecting different players in the public health community — inviting undergraduate students, graduate scholars, and distinguished experts — to discuss central conversations revolving around public health. The Journal features a multi-faceted approach to public health issues and is divided into three sections:

• Exploration and innovation : showcases cutting-edge research on current public health issues and outcomes; spotlights potential tools for public health enhancement and profiles practice-based approaches to public health.
• Governance : introduces potential and current systemic policy-based public health approaches
• Reflections : a space for personal narratives and experiences related to public health journeys and stories.

We seek to provide those at Stanford and at other peer universities to engage in these discussions and introduce new research by contributing to the Journal. The Journal offers interested individuals the opportunity for tangible contributions to the public health sector and simultaneously raises awareness of relevant critical issues in community health.

Stanford Politics

“We welcome topics ranging from art and culture to technology or social justice...we welcome strong, provocative writing backed by insightful analysis, original reporting or personal experience, and pitches can, of course, be inspired by academic work you have done. We are a non-partisan publication, which does not mean that what we publish cannot be ideological, but rather means we welcome perspectives from anywhere on the political spectrum. Stanford Politics aspires to illuminate important issues that people may not be aware of, contribute new and unique ideas to existing discussions or debates and provide thought-provoking challenges to, or critiques of, conventional wisdom.”

Stanford Undergraduate Law Review (SULR)

The Stanford Undergraduate Law Review (SULR) is a student-run legal publication focusing on law and civil liberties. The Online Journal will feature shorter pieces and a looser structure than past SULR issues. We accept submissions focused on civil liberties, civil rights law, or policy of about 3-4 pages from undergrad uate students at Stanford University. S tudents are encouraged to submit think pieces, past essays, reflections, studies, and anything in between.

The Stanford Undergraduate Research Journal (SURJ)

“Founded in 2001, the Stanford Undergraduate Research Journal (SURJ) is an annual, peer-reviewed publication of research articles from all academic fields. The mission of SURJ is to encourage, recognize, and reward intellectual activity beyond the classroom, while providing a forum for the exchange of research and ideas. Our journal is run entirely by a staff team of Stanford undergraduate students, led by two Editors-in-Chief. SURJ primarily publishes work produced by Stanford undergraduates, but also publishes papers from well-qualified students at other institutions. All submitted papers undergo review by SURJ’s team of editors, who subsequently deliberate and select the best submitted papers for publication.”

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Publishing: Publishing for Undergraduate Students

Academic publishing.

When you write a term paper or report on a study you devised, you're creating a piece of academic research. You join the conversation of academics through the frame of your work, which is a frame no other researcher can bring to the table. As you know, most undergraduate work is created in answer to a specific course.

Undergraduate work can have a life beyond evaluation, and the effort invested in a project like an undergraduate thesis doesn't need to only serve one institution. Many universities in the U.S. have undergraduate journals that accept submissions on a national scale.

If you're interested in submitting your work to a journal and bringing your research out into the world, check out the links below to see if the journals are right for you! If you need some guidance on how to polish a paper for submission, there are a few tips and tricks below the resource list.

Suggested Undergraduate Journals

Critique: a worldwide student journal of politics A peer-reviewed journal that's published biannually and welcomes year-round submissions. Submission guidelines are given on the site. Manuscripts must not exceed 10,000 words. The material must be related to political science.

YRIS: the Yale Review of International Studies An undergraduate journal with three annual issues; Winter and Spring issues open to undergraduates in the U.S. Submission guidelines are given on the site, along with the upcoming submission deadlines. Manuscripts must not exceed 40 pages. The material must be related to international affairs.

Gettysburg Social Sciences Review An open-access, peer-reviewed journal that's published biannually and welcomes year-round submissions. Authors must make an account to submit their work. Submission guidelines are given on the site. The material must fall under the social sciences umbrella.

World Outlook: the Dartmouth Journal of International Affairs A student-run, peer-reviewed journal that's published biannually and welcomes year-round submissions. Students can submit up to a year after graduating with an undergraduate degree. Submission guidelines are given on the site. Manuscripts must not exceed 25 pages. The material must be related to international affairs.

Hemispheres: the Tufts University Journal of International Affairs The oldest undergraduate journal of its kind. One issue is published each year; submission deadlines are announced on the site alongside submission guidelines. Manuscripts must not exceed 8,000 words. The material must be related to international affairs and each issue has a theme, though broad interpretations of the theme are encouraged.

Tips for Student Writers

Understanding submission guidelines:.

Many journals will have guidelines for submission provided on their website. Following these guidelines will insure that your submission will be reviewed and considered by the editorial team, so it's important to understand what they are asking from the authors they want to work with. Some common guidelines include:

• If your work goes under or over the recommended guidelines, consider revising the piece
• The University of Washington has several on-campus writing centers that you can visit for assistance
• Most social science and political science journals require Chicago, so make sure your citations are in order before submitting
• Some journals have specific themes they explore with each issue
• If your work does not relate to the theme, you may need to find another journal that does not have the same restrictions
• Larger or more well-known journals may limit the number of works you're able to submit per issue period
• If you have a lot of work you'd like to submit, think carefully about how well each piece fits a particular journal
• When submitting to a journal that only allows one or two submissions per issue period, only submit works that are a good fit for the journal

Before you submit, make sure that you double-check all the required guidelines! If you can, ask a friend, a writing tutor, or an academic mentor to review your submission.

How to select a journal:

The journals we recommend all fit certain criteria. Since undergraduate academic publishing is a field focused on scholarly development, you should look at the way a journal works and decide if your work fits into its scope. Some things to pay attention to might be:

• How often a journal is published
• How recently a journal has been published
• The required length of submissions
• Whether or not the journal is peer-reviewed
• Whether or not the journal is  open-access

Avoid journals that require a submission fee or ask you to relinquish your rights to your work. Most appropriate undergraduate journals will not ask for these steps. For further help in evaluating journals, check out this guide  for an in-depth look at journal fit and copyright basics ! 

Political Science and Public Policy Librarian

Credit: this guide was created by Conrad Schaffer Vignati, an MLIS student at the University of Washington.

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Scholarly Publishing

• Choosing a journal to publish in

Evaluating journals

Predatory publishers, journal directories, article analyzers & journal suggesters, undergraduate research journals, tools to measure journal impact.

• Author's rights, copyright & permissions
• Funding & discounts for open access publishing
• Resources for publishing & sharing your work
• Your scholarly profile

Any questions?

How can you identify journals to publish your work in? To start, look at the journals you read, that your colleagues read and publish in, and at who you cite in your work. Is there a pattern to those journals?

There are also additional tools that you can use to identify & evaluate journals you're considering publishing in. Browse this section of the guide to learn more about evaluating a journal; tools to use for finding appropriate journals such as journal directories & article analyzers; tools to measure the impact of a journal; and finding an undergraduate research journal to publish in.

When considering a journal as a potential place to publish, here are some things you might ask yourself:

Is the journal the right place for my work?

• Does the subject matter covered in the journal match your scholarship?
• Do the types of articles published and article length guidelines match with what you want to submit?
• Who is the audience of the journal?

Is this a trusted journal?

Look for journals where you can answer yes to many of the following questions:

• Can you identify the publisher? Are they affiliated with an organization you're familiar with? Is there contact information present? 
• Do the affiliations & backgrounds of the editorial board and authors publishing in the journal appear to be appropriate for the subject matter of the journal?
• Are articles peer-reviewed?
• Does the journal have an ISSN, and do articles have DOIs?
• Are the journal's copyright policies & any fees to publish clear? If you'd like to publish open access, are there options?
• Web of Science  for journals spanning the humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields (select "Publication Name" from the drop down menu next to the search box)
• Scopus  for journals in the social sciences and STEM fields
• SciFinder  for journals in Chemistry and related fields (select "Journal" under the References bar)
• PubMed  for life sciences, biomedical, clinical, and public/community health journals (choose "Journal" from the drop down menu next to the search box)
• JSTOR  for journals spanning the arts, humanities, social sciences, and sciences (scroll down and search using the "Publication Title" search box)

You can also look at the Think Check Submit checklist, use a journal evaluation tool [pdf] , or talk to the library!

"Predatory journals and publishers are entities that prioritize self-interest at the expense of scholarship and are characterized by false or misleading information, deviation from best editorial and publication practices, a lack of transparency, and/or the use of aggressive and indiscriminate solicitation practices."

Grudniewicz, Agnes, et. al. (2019). Predatory journals: No definition, no defence.  Nature (London) ,  576 (7786), 210–212. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-019-03759-y .

Visit the website for the journal and consider the questions in the  Evaluating journals section above. Some red flags include:

• The journal is  not  listed in the  Directory of Open Access Journals  (DOAJ)
• It's  not  listed in  Ulrichs  (Tufts login required), which is an authoritative source on publisher information, including Open Access titles
• It's  not  widely available within major databases
• You don't recognize previously published authors or members of the editorial board
• The journal isn't affiliated with a university or scholarly organization you are familiar with
• You can't easily identify if they have author processing fees and/or how much they cost.
• The journal doesn't appear professional - look for an impact factor, an ISSN, DOIs for individual articles, and easy to find contact information
• There isn't clear information about a peer-review process, or the journal promises extremely fast turn-around times to publishing that don't allow enough time for review

Use these resources to browse for an appropriate journal for your work, or to research a title that you're considering publishing in.

• Directory of Open Access Journals Use DOAJ to search or browse high-quality, peer-reviewed open access journal titles in all subjects and languages.
• MLA Directory of Periodicals Find out information for thousands of journals and book series that cover literature, literary theory, dramatic arts, folklore, language, linguistics, pedagogy, rhetoric and composition, and the history of printing and publishing.
• Ulrichsweb Ulrichsweb is the authoritative source of bibliographic and publisher information on more than 300,000 periodicals of all types: academic and scholarly journals, Open Access publications, peer-reviewed titles, popular magazines, newspapers, newsletters, and more from around the world.

If you've written an article but aren't sure where to submit it, these tools can help. They use your article's title, keywords, abstract, or full text to find journals that have published similar articles. The description for each resource below notes if it's limited to a specific publisher or discipline.

• B!SON Open Access Journal Finder Enter the title, abstract, and/or references of your paper to find an open access journal suitable to publish in.
• JSTOR Text Analyzer Drag and drop a copy of your article into the Text Analyzer, and the tool will find similar content in JSTOR. Consider the journals that those papers are published in.
• Jane (Journal Author/Name Estimator) Enter your article title and/or abstract of the paper in the box, and click on 'Find journals', 'Find authors' or 'Find Articles'. Jane will then compare your document to millions of documents indexed in Medline to find the best matching journals, authors or articles.
• Elsevier Journal Finder Elsevier Journal Finder uses smart search technology and field-of-research specific vocabularies to match your article to Elsevier journals.
• IEEE Publication Recommender Searches 170+ periodicals and 1500+ conferences from IEEE, provides factors such as Impact Factor and Submission-To-Publication Time.
• ChronosHub Journal Finder Browse, search, filter, sort, and compare more than 40,000 journals to find the right journal without worry about publishing in compliance with your funders’ Open Access policy.

Undergraduate research journals aren't indexed in many of the sources we typically use for finding journals, so lists of academic journals focused on publishing undergraduate research compiled by universities and organizations are good starting places for finding a place to publish your work:

• Undergraduate Research Journal Listing from the Council on Undergraduate Research
• Where to Publish Your Research  (compiled by Sacred Heart University)
• Undergraduate Research Journals  (compiled by University of Nebraska)
• Undergraduate Research Journals  (compiled by CUNY)
• Student Journals hosted on the bepress platform

Some things to consider while looking for an undergraduate research journal to publish your scholarship in include:

• Is there a submission deadline?
• Does the journal appear to be currently publishing?
• Are the journal's copyright policies clear?
• Journal Citation Reports Provides Impact Factors, and Eigenfactors and Article Influence Scores for science and social science journals.
• Scopus Journal Analyzer Use the Journal Analyzer to compare up to 10 Scopus sources on a variety of parameters: CiteScore, SJR (Scimago Journal and Country Rank), and SNIP (source normalised impact per paper)

Read more about these tools & measures on Hirsh Library's Measuring Research Impact guide .

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Undergraduate Research at Illinois

A publish.illinois.edu site.

The Benefits of Publishing as an Undergraduate

Writing an article and going through the peer review and editing processes can be difficult and time-consuming. Students may wonder if the end result is worth adding the extra commitment to their schedules. However, having an article published as an undergraduate has a wide variety of benefits and can present new opportunities to students involved in the publication process. Here are a few of the reasons to consider publishing as an undergraduate:

1. To help improve writing and research skills.

The process of researching, writing, editing, and publishing an article for the first time will provide valuable feedback on what steps may require improvement and where strengths may be. Going through these steps will improve writing and research skills that will be useful in graduate studies or a professional career.

2. To experience the scholarly publication process.

Publication is a requirement in many disciplines. Going through the process as an undergraduate will make the experience familiar when it may be required later. It will also provide context and understanding of the field.

3. To connect with professors and researchers.

Faculty in the department the journal is connected to will likely be involved in the publication or post-publication process. Publishing in the journal will help connect students to those faculty members in a way that isn’t often achieved in the typical classroom setting. Publishing may also help students connect with other professionals and researchers in the field, providing new opportunities for collaboration and future study.

4. To display leadership and initiative.

Working as part of the editorial team or being involved in the publication process is hard work. Faculty, employers, and graduate school admissions committee members will understand this and recognize pursuing this endeavor as an example of leadership and drive.

5. To professionalize the undergraduate experience.

Having a published paper will provide a certain level of professionalization to a resume that many undergraduates do not have. It will signal to graduate school committees and employers that steps were taken to seriously pursue research interests. Published paper may also be useful as a writing sample in graduate school applications.

6. To inform a future career path.

The process of publishing a paper may help inform a future career path and illuminate opportunities that may otherwise have not been considered. It may pique a student’s interest in pursuing publishing or graduate studies as the next step after completion of an undergraduate degree. Alternatively, it may confirm to other students that they wish to pursue other interests outside of academia. Working with faculty and other student researchers will allow students to enter a scholarly community that may help them decide on a future career path. Either way, the process will be valuable in assisting students in deciding what the next step will be.