Factors influencing the choice of a publication venue in library and information science

Abstract

This study proposes a theoretical model of journal selection criteria by consolidating and validating the previously identified elements that influence authors' choice of publication venue. For the study, we surveyed 490 authors who published their work in library and information science journals and performed an exploratory factor analysis. The analysis identified five underlying components of journal selection criteria consisting of 15 items, which were labelled prestige, readership, peer review, infrastructure, and performance. The five components were positively related to each other, and peer review was shown as the most important component in choosing a publication venue, followed by readership, prestige, infrastructure, and performance. The results of this study will help increase the understanding of authors' publishing behaviours and will help journal publishers and editors improve their journals by developing strategies that attract better‐quality manuscripts.