Astutik Nur Qomariyah, M.Hum (left) with Eva Mursidah, S.I.Pust. (right) on the podcast “Strategies for Accessing High-Quality Journals for Scientific Writing” on Thursday (August 27, 2026).

SURABAYA – Finding references for research isn’t just a matter of searching for journals on similar topics. The credibility of the publisher, the relevance of the articles, and the quality of the publication process are crucial factors that must be considered to support accountable research. These topics were discussed in the ITS Library podcast titled “Strategies for Accessing High-Quality Journals for Scientific Writing,” which aired on the ITS Library YouTube channel on Thursday, August 27, 2026. The podcast featured Astutik Nur Qomariyah, M.Hum., as the guest speaker and Eva Mursidah, S.I.Pust., as the host; both are ITS librarians.

In the podcast, Astutik explained that a high-quality journal has at least two important aspects: credibility and relevance. Credibility can be assessed based on a reputable publisher, a peer-review process that meets established standards, and inclusion in credible databases such as Scopus and Web of Science. Users should also be wary of predatory journals, which lack a transparent review process and can undermine the credibility of scientific work.

The ITS Library provides access to various journal databases to support the research needs of the academic community, including ScienceDirect, IEEE, SpringerLink, Nature, Taylor & Francis, and Emerald. To access these resources, members of the academic community who are off-campus can use the ITS VPN. If they encounter difficulties obtaining the articles they need, librarians can also assist with searching and finding alternative information sources in accordance with applicable regulations.

Furthermore, Astutik shared strategies for selecting the right journal, starting with identifying specific keywords, using the database’s filter features by year or subject, and evaluating an article’s relevance through its abstract. Users are also advised to verify information found through search engines or AI and ensure that sources come from credible publishers. Relevant articles can then serve as a starting point for discovering other interconnected references.

To conclude the discussion, Astutik advised students and researchers not to focus too much on finding the perfect article, but rather to look for articles relevant to their research topics. Relevant articles can serve as a gateway to discovering other sources. Through this podcast, the ITS Library continues to encourage the academic community to be more discerning in finding, evaluating, and utilizing scientific information sources to support high-quality research.