Mission, aims and scope

The ‘mission, aims, and scope’ section of a journal, also referred to as the ‘about’ section or similar terms, is the first place to look for guidance on the suitability of your paper for a journal.

It may state the topics, research methods and designs, or article types and formats the journal publishes. Be sure that your work appropriately matches these subjects.

Statements about submissions making novel contributions or advances to the field suggest the journal is looking for substantially new, groundbreaking research or theoretical progress. Understanding the nuances of a journal’s mission is a good first step to developing a realistic expectation for the suitability of your article for a journal.