• 2 weeks - 41 posts - Latest - RSS
• OP: 1 Goods vs 4 No Goods
• Thread: 118 Goods vs 52 No Goods

1. Dax
   

   Not-a-political-scientist here. Basic question: Which journals do political scientists mean when they say "the top 3" as though everybody knows which journals they mean?

   To be clear, I'm not asking which three poli sci journals are the three best. Rather, I'm asking what three journals "the top 3" is presumed to refer to.

   I tried to the forum search function, but I only found many threads discussing the relative merits of different journals. This is more important than my question, but still doesn't answer my basic question.

   2 weeks ago # QUOTE 1 YEA 4 NAY!

2. Ryu
   

   APSR, AJPS, JOP

   2 weeks ago # QUOTE 29 YEA 2 NAY!

3. Dax
   

   Thank you, I appreciate it.

   2 weeks ago # QUOTE 2 YEA 1 NAY!

4. Jayna
   

   Journal of Conflict Resolution is in a different league because it is devoted to using science to end warfare. And they are doing a great job.

   2 weeks ago # QUOTE 2 YEA 4 NAY!

5. Harvey
   

   The answer you received is correct, but it should be mentioned that there isn't a consensus as to what the top 3 journals are. Outside of America, few would consider JoP to be a top 3 journal. Outside of Americanists, a small minority consider JoP to be a top 3 journal.

   For non-IR poli sci, there's really a top 2, APSR and AJPS. If somebody in IR talks about publishing in the top 3, there's a good chance IO is in the top 3, and is maybe at the top of the top 3. For CP, JoP is a great hit, but older people may consider WP to be that third journal, and younger people may think BJPS or CPS is a better journal. Only non-Americanists who have a foot in methods will think JoP is a top 3 journal.

   2 weeks ago # QUOTE 17 YEA 7 NAY!

6. Dax
   

   This is super helpful. Thanks.

   What would be the typical top few journals if I asked a formal theorist?

   2 weeks ago # QUOTE 0 YEA 2 NAY!

7. Nicolas
   

   This is super helpful. Thanks.
   What would be the typical top few journals if I asked a formal theorist?

   American Economic Review

   2 weeks ago # QUOTE 2 YEA 0 NAY!

8. Juliana
   

   I started reading this with a lot of skepticism, but this is actually spot-on.

   The answer you received is correct, but it should be mentioned that there isn't a consensus as to what the top 3 journals are. Outside of America, few would consider JoP to be a top 3 journal. Outside of Americanists, a small minority consider JoP to be a top 3 journal.
   For non-IR poli sci, there's really a top 2, APSR and AJPS. If somebody in IR talks about publishing in the top 3, there's a good chance IO is in the top 3, and is maybe at the top of the top 3. For CP, JoP is a great hit, but older people may consider WP to be that third journal, and younger people may think BJPS or CPS is a better journal. Only non-Americanists who have a foot in methods will think JoP is a top 3 journal.

   2 weeks ago # QUOTE 5 YEA 1 NAY!

9. Lorainne
   

   JOP is only top 3 for Americanists.

   It falls down below IO, IS, BJPS and ISQ for IR. I don't even submit there.

   2 weeks ago # QUOTE 3 YEA 9 NAY!

10. Julius
    

    JOP is only top 3 for Americanists.
    It falls down below IO, IS, BJPS and ISQ for IR. I don't even submit there.

    I agree with this, mostly. But perhaps the relative decline of ISQ makes JOP somewhat attractive for IR.

    2 weeks ago # QUOTE 0 YEA 0 NAY!

11. Alisya
    

    The answer you received is correct, but it should be mentioned that there isn't a consensus as to what the top 3 journals are. Outside of America, few would consider JoP to be a top 3 journal. Outside of Americanists, a small minority consider JoP to be a top 3 journal.

    The caveat to this is most people recognize the big three as the APSR, AJPS, and JOP. But the IR folks have 35 top 3 journals that nobody outside of IR recognizes as being in the top 3. IF you said top 3, everyone will know the three originally mentioned.

    2 weeks ago # QUOTE 9 YEA 0 NAY!

12. Data
    

    These are recognized as the top three general journals. That does not necessarily mean they are the top three generals for you to publish in, depending on your subfield.

    2 weeks ago # QUOTE 5 YEA 0 NAY!

13. Thelma
    

    American behavior here. Very clearly apsr, AJPS, JOP.

    2 weeks ago # QUOTE 7 YEA 0 NAY!

14. Coline
    

    The answer you received is correct, but it should be mentioned that there isn't a consensus as to what the top 3 journals are. Outside of America, few would consider JoP to be a top 3 journal. Outside of Americanists, a small minority consider JoP to be a top 3 journal.

    The caveat to this is most people recognize the big three as the APSR, AJPS, and JOP. But the IR folks have 35 top 3 journals that nobody outside of IR recognizes as being in the top 3. IF you said top 3, everyone will know the three originally mentioned.

    IO and IS are clearly the only two contenders for the #3 spot, and depending on the type of research you do one or the other is clearly the superior choice. Publishing your best IR work in JOP rather than an actual IR journal would be detrimental to your career.

    2 weeks ago # QUOTE 3 YEA 1 NAY!

15. Lorainne
    

    The answer you received is correct, but it should be mentioned that there isn't a consensus as to what the top 3 journals are. Outside of America, few would consider JoP to be a top 3 journal. Outside of Americanists, a small minority consider JoP to be a top 3 journal.

    The caveat to this is most people recognize the big three as the APSR, AJPS, and JOP. But the IR folks have 35 top 3 journals that nobody outside of IR recognizes as being in the top 3. IF you said top 3, everyone will know the three originally mentioned.

    IO and IS are clearly the only two contenders for the #3 spot, and depending on the type of research you do one or the other is clearly the superior choice. Publishing your best IR work in JOP rather than an actual IR journal would be detrimental to your career.

    2 weeks ago # QUOTE 0 YEA 1 NAY!

16. Alisya
    

    The answer you received is correct, but it should be mentioned that there isn't a consensus as to what the top 3 journals are. Outside of America, few would consider JoP to be a top 3 journal. Outside of Americanists, a small minority consider JoP to be a top 3 journal.
    The caveat to this is most people recognize the big three as the APSR, AJPS, and JOP. But the IR folks have 35 top 3 journals that nobody outside of IR recognizes as being in the top 3. IF you said top 3, everyone will know the three originally mentioned.

    IO and IS are clearly the only two contenders for the #3 spot, and depending on the type of research you do one or the other is clearly the superior choice. Publishing your best IR work in JOP rather than an actual IR journal would be detrimental to your career.

    No it would not. All the scholars in other fields would recognize it as a top 3 publication when they hire you.

    2 weeks ago # QUOTE 1 YEA 1 NAY!

17. Tamika
    

    The answer you received is correct, but it should be mentioned that there isn't a consensus as to what the top 3 journals are. Outside of America, few would consider JoP to be a top 3 journal. Outside of Americanists, a small minority consider JoP to be a top 3 journal.
    The caveat to this is most people recognize the big three as the APSR, AJPS, and JOP. But the IR folks have 35 top 3 journals that nobody outside of IR recognizes as being in the top 3. IF you said top 3, everyone will know the three originally mentioned.
    IO and IS are clearly the only two contenders for the #3 spot, and depending on the type of research you do one or the other is clearly the superior choice. Publishing your best IR work in JOP rather than an actual IR journal would be detrimental to your career.

    No it would not. All the scholars in other fields would recognize it as a top 3 publication when they hire you.

    I'm not in IR, but I'd be more impressed by an IO than a JoP. JoP is a clear top 3 for AP, but I can recognize that it's not a top journal for all other subfields. IO and JoP aren't even comparable in IR. IO is much better.

    2 weeks ago # QUOTE 2 YEA 0 NAY!

18. Coline
    

    The answer you received is correct, but it should be mentioned that there isn't a consensus as to what the top 3 journals are. Outside of America, few would consider JoP to be a top 3 journal. Outside of Americanists, a small minority consider JoP to be a top 3 journal.
    The caveat to this is most people recognize the big three as the APSR, AJPS, and JOP. But the IR folks have 35 top 3 journals that nobody outside of IR recognizes as being in the top 3. IF you said top 3, everyone will know the three originally mentioned.
    IO and IS are clearly the only two contenders for the #3 spot, and depending on the type of research you do one or the other is clearly the superior choice. Publishing your best IR work in JOP rather than an actual IR journal would be detrimental to your career.

    No it would not. All the scholars in other fields would recognize it as a top 3 publication when they hire you.

    I already have a job. Why would I publish my best work somewhere it's only going to be read by non-IR scholars?

    2 weeks ago # QUOTE 0 YEA 0 NAY!

19. Julius
    

    I already have a job. Why would I publish my best work somewhere it's only going to be read by non-IR scholars?

    We don't read physical journals anymore. So not really a relevant point.

    2 weeks ago # QUOTE 0 YEA 0 NAY!

20. Cassian
    

    As an IR person, I’d take IO, ISQ, or IS over JOP. All good journals, of course, but a paper in one of the major IR-specific outlets will get more attention from IR scholars than the JOP piece.

    2 weeks ago # QUOTE 2 YEA 0 NAY!

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