What is a Collection? We Answer Your FAQs
Author: Siobhan Bates
As an early career researcher, you manage many responsibilities, including publishing work, expanding your network, and establishing credibility in a competitive research environment. We understand that this can be challenging. In this blog, we answer common questions about Collections and reveal how Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø Collections can help get your research discovered, shared, and used by relevant audiences so it can create a meaningful impact.
“When you think about an article Collection, imagine a book in progress. It starts as a blank slate, but as researchers contribute their work, it becomes a carefully curated collection of knowledge. Each article adds something new, building a bigger story, and helping shape our fields' future.â€
- Petia Apostolova, Head of Collections Management and Acquisition, CMA
What is a Collection?
Often referred to as Article Collections, Special Issue's, or Topical Collections, a Collection is a curated group of journal articles that focus on a specific theme or emerging topic. Their aim—to bring research together from across disciplines to solve global challenges. By grouping research in this way, Collections also make it easier for readers to find and access the content they need. This leads to increased visibility and impact.
“Collections are important because they address the most urgent and significant questions in their field, which allows researchers to discover content more easily so they can focus on their own discoveries.â€
- Kun Yu, Director of Collection Management and Acquisition, CMA
What is the purpose of Collections?
To make an impact, research needs to be discoverable and built on a foundation of trust. This is the core purpose of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø Collections. Our curated Collections are thoughtfully designed to facilitate collaboration among researchers. Collections create a focused and dynamic platform where authors working on similar research questions can share insights and discoveries.
In addition, by organizing a diverse range of research—spanning cutting-edge studies to niche topics—Collections elevate individual contributions. They also make sure all valid research is recognized and supported, regardless of its scope or popularity. This commitment not only enhances visibility for researchers but also encourages a more comprehensive understanding of complex issues, ultimately driving the scientific community forward.
How do Collection articles differ from standalone journal articles?
Collections differ from journals because they uniquely curate research around a specific topic. Journals, however, typically publish research within a particular discipline. Additionally, unlike standalone articles submitted to a journal, Collections authors are invited to submit their papers through an open Call for Papers.
Furthermore, Collections also differ from journals, because they are often overseen by Guest Editors who are experts in the Collection topic. Guest Editors are invited to guest edit a Collection by the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø Collection Management and Acquisition (CMA) team. They are chosen precisely because they understand and recognize the importance of emerging and multidisciplinary research.
How do Collections help researchers?
Researchers can benefit from publishing in Collection in many ways. Most notably, researchers need to stay up to date with current findings in their research area. Yet, searching for relevant can be time-consuming. This is why Collections e