Research knowledge base
Research and publishing toolkit
Start with the decision or research task, then choose a tool that supports it. This toolkit connects practical workflows, original worksheets and independent resources with relevant Outlier Science guidance.
01
Find the next useful step
- Choose a journal
- Use the publisher guidance comparison with our journal-selection guide. Record alternatives in the journal comparison worksheet below.
- Build a usable reference library
- Follow the reference-management workflow before finalising a manuscript bibliography.
- Conduct a systematic review
- Use the review workflow to connect methods, screening records and reporting.
- Share outputs responsibly
- Work through the data-sharing workflow and distinguish a repository from a publisher’s policy.
- Assess institutional research
- Follow the responsible metrics guide before drawing comparisons from database totals.
02
Journal comparison worksheet
Use the worksheets
Download an editable CSV, open it in your preferred spreadsheet tool and add a row for each candidate or decision.
Copy these fields into a shared spreadsheet. Give every candidate the same review, and retain the date and source of each check. An empty field is an unresolved question, not evidence that the journal meets the requirement.
| Field | What to record |
|---|---|
| Identity and fit | Exact title, ISSN, article type, intended readers, relevant recent papers and scope URL |
| Requirements | Author instructions, reporting checklist, ethics and disclosure items |
| Access and costs | Publication route, verified mandatory charges and any applicable funding condition |
| Coverage | Required database, exact collection, coverage evidence and verification date |
| Decision | Reason to include or exclude, unresolved issues, reviewer and next action |
03
Evidence and decision log
For any workflow, keep a record with: decision; owner; date; source URL; relevant version; evidence reviewed; limitation; action; and review date. This lets a colleague revisit the basis of a decision without repeating the entire search.
04
Use tools with a defined boundary
Check account conditions, data handling, export options and institutional approval before moving project material into a cloud service. A tool’s availability does not establish that its output is accurate or that a proposed workflow is appropriate. Trial a small, non-sensitive example and confirm that the records can be exported.
For a worked application, explore the best-practice case studies. If the task needs expert review, the corresponding service page explains the available scope.
05
Sources and tools
- Zotero — Collect, organise and cite references; verify imported metadata.
- Rayyan — Organise review screening and record reviewer decisions.
- R Project — Use scripts for statistical analysis and graphics.
- jamovi — Use an accessible statistical interface and retain the analysis file.
- Open Science Framework — Organise linked research materials and study registrations.
- OpenAlex — Explore research records while checking coverage and identity matching.
06
Continue with your research
External resources reviewed 22 October 2026. Check the current instructions for the selected journal, tool or institution before acting. These links identify independent resources and do not imply an affiliation with or endorsement by their providers.