Section outline

  • Course Overview

    This course introduces the journal publishing landscape and the key decisions researchers make when publishing their work. You will look at publishing models, publication processes, authorship responsibilities, and strategies for selecting the most appropriate publishing pathway for your research.  

    Learning Outcomes

    This course will help you to:

    1. Differentiate between publishing options, including open access, subscription publishing, and preprints, and evaluate their benefits and implications for your research 

    1. Assess publishing opportunities and make informed decisions about where and how to publish your research 

    1. Explain the purpose, value, and advantages of publishing journal articles and navigate the key stages of the publication process 

    1. Recognize the roles and responsibilities of authors and collaborators and apply strategies for effective authorship and communication throughout the publication process 

    1. Identify the benefits and challenges of collaborative authorship and manage relationships with co-authors, editors, and publishers effectively 

    1. Evaluate publishing pathways and opportunities to maximize the dissemination and impact of your research 

    From time to time, we will refer to SAGE’s own specific publishing practices so that we can give you the most specific and practical guidance possible. However, these processes will likely be applicable to other journal publishers. If in doubt, always check their guidelines.

    • Video Transcripts

      You can access all video transcripts here. 

    • Pre-Course Self Assessment

      Before you dive into this course, spend a few moments reflecting on your familiarity with the topic and your current level of skills confidence. 

      You will then re-visit the same questions in our Post-Course Self Assessment and reflect on how the course has helped you develop in confidence and grow your skills. 

      • Module One: The Development of Publishing Models

        This module will help you to:

        1. Appreciate the move from print to digital journal publishing 
        2. Determine the difference between open access and subscription publishing models  
        3. Assess what avenue to take when publishing your article
        4. Evaluate the benefits of using preprints in journal publishing

      • Module Two: Why and Where to Publish?

        This module will help you to:

        1. Recognize what journals are and how they differ from books 
        2. Identify the publishing process 
        3. Describe the advantages of publishing a journal article 

        4. Evaluate the benefits of publishing your research in order to make an informed decision on how best to publish your journal article 

      • Module Three: Defining Authorship

        This module will help you to:

        1. Recognize the responsibilities of different author roles to effectively organize and write your article 
        2. Identify the benefits and challenges in collaborating with other authors 
        3. Manage communications during the publication process with publishers and your author team 

      • Post-Course Self Assessment

        Now you’ve completed the course, spend a few moments reflecting on where your familiarity with the topics and your confidence skills levels are at now. 

        Has the course helped you develop new skills and grow your confidence?

        You'll need to complete the Post-Course Self Assessment in order to download your certificate. If you didn't do the Pre-Course Self Assessment before starting the course, please go to the top of the page and reflect on your familiarity with the topic and your level of skills confidence before you started the course.

        • Completion: Certificate

          Completing all modules (plus the pre and post-course assessments) will unlock the course certificate, which you can then download here. Your course certificate will only be made available once you have completed all these sections.

          If you have difficulty accessing your certificate, please contact the Sage support team at: onlinesupport@sagepub.co.uk. You can also check out this FAQ page which may be helpful.

          • Give Feedback About This Course

            Did you enjoy the course? Please take two minutes to share your feedback. We use learner feedback in future course updates and developments to provide an excellent learning experience.

          • Accessibility

            We have high standards of accessibility on Sage Campus and as of May/June 2024 all activities within this course are keyboard and screen reader compatible. For more details on accessibility standards, please see the Sage Campus Accessibility Guide.

            For those using assistive technology, please note that within this course:

            • Tab components: JAWS and NVDA behave slightly differently. For NVDA to keep reading, it is best to exit focus mode and go back to browse mode. 
            • Matching: JAWS does not read out question label on dropdown focus.