Last updated: April 2026 · 7 min read · Audience: Authors, students, early-career researchers · Reading level: Introductory
Introduction
Multidisciplinary research draws on methods, theories, or data from multiple fields. The publication challenge is that traditional journals are organised by discipline; reviewers within a discipline may judge cross-field work harshly when it does not fit standard expectations.
Three categories of journal address multidisciplinary work, each with trade-offs.
Three publication paths
| Path | Strength | Caution |
|---|---|---|
| Multidisciplinary journals | Reviewers expect cross-field work | Often less prestige than top discipline-specific |
| Generalist top-tier | Wide reach across fields | Highly selective |
| Discipline-anchored | Stronger field-specific reception | Reviewers may discount non-primary discipline contributions |
Practical guidance
- Identify the work's primary discipline (where the contribution is most theoretically significant).
- Choose the journal based on the audience the work most needs to reach.
- Frame the introduction to address the journal's primary disciplinary audience first, then bridge to other disciplines.
- Cite work from all involved disciplines to demonstrate awareness.
- Suggest reviewers from each contributing discipline if the system allows.
Common multidisciplinary publication challenges
Decision guidance
If the work has clear primary and secondary disciplines, a primary-discipline journal often works well. If the work is genuinely cross-cutting, a multidisciplinary journal is usually a better fit. If the work has broad implications, a generalist top-tier venue may be appropriate, accepting the lower acceptance probability.
Example scenarios
Scenario: a researcher combining engineering and management
Engineering-management work (operations research, supply chain, technology management) has dedicated journals at the intersection. These accept cross-field contributions naturally. Submitting to a pure engineering journal usually requires emphasising the engineering contribution; a pure management journal requires emphasising the management contribution.
Scenario: a researcher in computational social science
Computational social science has emerging dedicated venues. Mainstream social science journals sometimes still expect traditional methodology; mainstream computer science journals may not value the social science contribution. Specialised venues where reviewers expect cross-field work are usually better.
Scenario: a researcher with applied policy implications
Policy-relevant work fits both academic journals (in the primary discipline) and policy journals (cross-field). Two publications addressing different audiences is common; ensure the work is meaningfully different in each, not duplicate publication.
What to do next
Identify the audience the work most needs to reach and select journal accordingly. Authors targeting EP Journals Group venues can use the central submission form; the GJEFM journal (interdisciplinary education, finance, and management) is one option for cross-field work.
Frequently asked questions
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Related reading and next steps
- Submission portal — Submit a manuscript through the central form
- Journals list — Six peer-reviewed journals across disciplines
- How to choose the right journal
- How to choose a research topic
- Structured vs unstructured
- Publishing in data science
Editorial enquiries
Questions about this guide or about preparing a manuscript for submission may be directed to the editorial office. Where a query relates to a specific journal in the portfolio, please indicate the journal abbreviation in your message.
Email: editor@ep-journals.org