Discussion Overview
The discussion centers around the decision-making process for selecting an appropriate journal for submission of a PhD research paper on electromagnetic wave propagation. Participants explore considerations related to journal ranking and relevance to specific sub-fields within electrical engineering.
Discussion Character
Main Points Raised
- John, a PhD student, seeks advice on whether to submit his work to IEEE Trans. Micr. Th. Tech. or JOSA A, questioning which journal is considered of higher rank.
- One participant suggests consulting the student's supervisor for guidance, noting that journal ranking can vary significantly by sub-field.
- Another participant emphasizes the importance of tradition in publication choices within specific fields, indicating that publishing in a less appropriate journal could lead to lower readership, regardless of impact factor.
- John mentions that his supervisor believes either journal is a good choice, but he remains uncertain about which would be better for his academic record.
- John provides additional context about his research, specifying that it involves electromagnetic wave propagation in optical waveguides and mentions having found similar works in both journals.
- John expresses consideration of submitting to PRE but doubts its suitability for his work.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants do not reach a consensus on which journal is definitively better for submission, and multiple perspectives on the importance of journal selection based on field-specific traditions and supervisor input are presented.
Contextual Notes
Limitations include the lack of specific details about the sub-field's publication traditions and the subjective nature of journal ranking, which may depend on various factors not fully articulated in the discussion.
Who May Find This Useful
PhD students and researchers in electrical engineering or related fields considering journal submissions for their research work.