What question did this study set out to answer?

To provide a systems-based framework for understanding how scholarly journals operate beyond prestige and impact.

January 16, 2026Open Access

How Journals Work: A Systems-Based Framework for Understanding Scholarly Publishing

Key Points

To provide a systems-based framework for understanding how scholarly journals operate beyond prestige and impact.
Developed the Journal Systems Framework to analyze editorial intent and capacity.
Evaluated differences in journal infrastructure and governance among various scholarly publications.
Promoted discussions among authors, editors, and institutions about journal functions.
Identified key differences in how journals operate based on their editorial intent.
Showed that traditional measures of prestige do not capture actual journal functionality.
Facilitated more informed conversations in the scholarly publishing community.

Abstract

Scholarly journals are often judged by prestige or impact, yet these signals reveal little about how journals actually function. The Journal Systems Framework offers a systems-based way to understand differences in editorial intent, capacity, infrastructure, and governance—helping authors, editors, and institutions move beyond simplistic labels toward clearer, more informed conversations about publishing.

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Authors

Leslie H. Nicoll

IDEXX Laboratories (United States)

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Analyzing shared references across papers

How Journals Work: A Systems-Based Framework for Understanding Scholarly Publishing

Key Points

Abstract

Citation Network

Connected Papers

Discussion

Authors

Actions

References and Citations

Citation Network

Connected Papers

Discussion

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