How to Find a Journal for Publication Using Google Scholar

Finding a publication-ready journal starts with using Google Scholar as a targeted discovery tool—then filtering the results against the real requirements of a department or funding body. The core method is to build a search query from the exact keywords in a manuscript. For example, with an article focused on “green HRM,” “organizational identification,” and “employ engagement,” the search is run in Google Scholar using those terms (in quotation marks and combined with logical spacing) to surface existing papers that match the topic. From the resulting list, the next step is to select relevant journals, not random matches.

After running the keyword search, the results can be narrowed by publication date. The transcript gives an example of filtering to articles published after 2013, producing 353 results; if the number is too small, the time window can be adjusted (such as moving to after 2020). This matters because it helps identify journals that are actively publishing in the same research area, increasing the likelihood that a submission will be aligned with current editorial scope.

Once candidate articles appear, the journal names can be checked directly from the listing. If the journal name is truncated in the results, the user can click through to the site or reference details to reveal the full journal title. The transcript illustrates this with examples such as Sustainability and a journal listed as “Journal of Economic and administrative Sciences” (shown in full after checking the reference details). The key point is that journal selection should be based on the journals behind the most relevant, recent papers.

However, choosing from Google Scholar results is not enough on its own. The transcript warns against blindly selecting any journal from the list because predatory journals can also appear. Instead, each candidate journal must be evaluated against specific criteria tied to institutional policy. Common checks include whether the journal is indexed in Scopus (if the university requires Scopus-indexed outlets), whether it falls into a particular impact-factor tier such as Q1 or Q2, and whether it is included or excluded by restricted databases set by the institution.

Two practical submission factors also come into play: processing time and APC (article processing charge). The transcript recommends prioritizing journals with no APC, framing it as a cost-control strategy alongside quality and compliance checks. In short, Google Scholar helps identify topical journal targets quickly, but final selection depends on indexing status, ranking requirements, database restrictions, and submission economics.