Conclusions
While journal ranking systems were initially designed to help libraries assess which journals to subscribe to,13 overreliance on the JIF in the current assessment of research is a limitation.14 While rankings offer one perspective on a journal’s influence, they do not fully capture how journals serve their communities of authors and readers.15
Our white paper underscores the critical role Q3 and Q4 journals play in making specialised, incremental, and interdisciplinary research accessible to a global audience.
The high and growing usage of Q3 and Q4 journals reflects the real-world value they offer to both established and emerging fields. Researchers, institutions, and global communities rely on these journals to access diverse perspectives and foundational studies that may not be prioritised in top-ranked journals.
Q3 and Q4 journals also excel in promoting inclusivity and diversity, ensuring that valuable research – whether conducted in LMICs, niche disciplines, or emerging fields – reaches a wider audience. They are essential to ECRs, providing them with opportunities to publish their first papers and develop essential research and publishing skills. They support research with local and regional importance. Their influence also extends beyond academia; the actionable insights published in these journals often inform policy and practice in sectors such as healthcare.
13 The Journal Impact Factor: A Brief History, Critique, and Discussion of Adverse Effects
14 San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment
15 Springer Nature (2025, April). The state of research assessment: Researcher perspectives on evaluation practices.
The role of OA in expanding the reach and influence of Q3 and Q4 journals
Springer Nature is a proud signatory of DORA - a declaration to move the focus away from solely relying on JIF and citation-based metrics. As we continue our transition to OA, we see it as even more vital that all journals, regardless of their ranking, benefit from wider access and readership. For Q3 and Q4 journals, OA provides unique advantages, such as enabling global knowledge sharing, making research more widely available beyond academia, and meeting the needs of researchers and practitioners working under resource constraints.
The journals featured in this white paper, such as AIDS Research and Therapy, underscore the potential of OA for all research. In LMICs where access to subscription journals is limited, OA empowers local research to influence practice. The importance of OA extends beyond accessibility; it also meets the growing expectations of funders, many of whom now require research to be made openly available to maximise its use and utility.
Supporting a more equitable and inclusive research landscape
If we seek to foster a more equitable research landscape that benefits the entire global community, then we must move beyond singular ranking-based evaluation by embracing a wider social evaluation that looks at real life impact. Q3 and Q4 journals, as shown in this white paper, foster inclusivity, support emerging and underrepresented voices, and address region-specific challenges. We must ensure all validated research has a place to thrive.
How to cite this white paper
Springer Nature (2025, April). Demonstrating journal value beyond rankings. https://stories.springernature.com/value-of-q3q4-journals/index.html
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