# Find Journal

> Recommend suitable academic journals for manuscript submission using a local Journal Finder database and Python query scripts. Use when the user asks to find journals, recommend SSCI/AHCI journals, choose where to submit a paper, compare journal fit, evaluate submission options, or asks in Chinese about 找期刊, 期刊推荐, 投稿建议, SSCI/AHCI 选刊. Covers humanities and social sciences including law, sociology,…

- **Type:** Skill
- **Install:** `agentstack add skill-yennhi85219-glitch-journal-finder-find-journal`
- **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior
- **Seller:** [yennhi85219-glitch](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/yennhi85219-glitch)
- **Installs:** 0
- **Category:** [Databases](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/databases)
- **Latest version:** 0.1.0
- **License:** MIT
- **Upstream author:** [yennhi85219-glitch](https://github.com/yennhi85219-glitch)
- **Source:** https://github.com/yennhi85219-glitch/journal-finder/tree/main/codex-skills/find-journal

## Install

```sh
agentstack add skill-yennhi85219-glitch-journal-finder-find-journal
```

Requires the [AgentStack CLI](https://agentstack.voostack.com/docs/cli). Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible agent.

## About

# Find Journal

Use this skill to help researchers choose submission journals from the local Journal Finder project. The skill is Codex-native: do not rely on Claude Code slash commands or Claude-only tools.

## Locate the Project

Prefer the first existing path:

1. A repository path the user gives explicitly.
2. `journal-finder-config.json` in this installed skill directory, using its `project_dir` or `data_dir`.
3. The current workspace if it contains `skill/scripts/query_db.py`.
4. `/Users/a86166/journal-finder`.
5. `~/journal-finder`.

The expected project contains:

- `skill/scripts/query_db.py` for keyword + semantic/hybrid journal search.
- `skill/scripts/semantic_search.py` for direct semantic search.
- `data/journals_ssci.json` as the canonical database.
- Optional semantic assets: `data/journal_index.faiss`, `data/journal_embeddings.npy`, `data/journal_index_map.json`.

If the project cannot be found, ask the user for the `journal-finder` repository path.

## Intake

Extract these from the user request:

- Title and abstract, or at least a topic paragraph.
- Keywords, explicit or inferred.
- Preferences: topic fit, prestige, speed, budget, CN-friendly, annual volume/capacity, review-data reliability.
- Constraints: maximum APC, OA-only, minimum JCR quartile, maximum review days, review-data required, whether the manuscript is a review article.

If there is no usable title, abstract, or topic paragraph, ask for one before running a query.

If the user provides a usable title, abstract, or topic but does not state submission preferences, ask one concise preference question before running a query: `你更看重哪些方面？可选：主题贴合、求档次、求快、预算有限、国人友好、容量稳；也可以说“均衡推荐”。` Continue after the user answers. If the user says balanced, unspecified, or no preference, use `--sort balanced --priorities fit`.

Infer 3-8 scope-defining keywords. Keep countries, methods, and samples as context, but do not let them replace the main field/problem concepts. For law papers, include legal-field concepts such as `law`, `legal regulation`, `human rights`, `environmental law`, `criminal justice`, `constitutional law`, `international law`, `legal sociology`, or `law and society` when relevant.

## Query

Run `query_db.py` from the Journal Finder project. Use `python3` unless the project documents another environment.

Basic query:

```bash
python3 skill/scripts/query_db.py --discipline all --keywords "keyword1,keyword2,keyword3" --top 15
```

Useful options:

```bash
--sort balanced|prestige|speed|cn_friendly
--priorities fit,prestige,speed,budget,cn,volume,data
--max-apc 3000
--oa-only
--min-quartile Q1|Q2|Q3|Q4
--max-review-days 180
--require-review-data
--include-review-only
--data-dir /path/to/journal-finder/data
```

Preference mapping:

- Topic fit: `--sort balanced --priorities fit`
- Prestige: `--sort prestige --priorities prestige`
- Speed: `--sort speed --priorities speed`
- Speed with evidence only: `--sort speed --priorities speed --require-review-data`
- Budget limited: `--sort balanced --priorities budget --max-apc `
- CN-friendly: `--sort cn_friendly --priorities cn`
- Balanced prestige + speed: `--sort balanced --priorities prestige,speed`
- Review manuscript: add `--include-review-only`

If the user asks for separate lists, run separate queries for each priority and compare the top results. If they ask to balance goals, run one combined query.

## Interpret Results

Parse the JSON output. Check these fields before presenting recommendations:

- `query.semantic_search`: whether semantic search was used.
- `query.semantic_status` and `query.semantic_error`: fallback reason when semantic search is unavailable.
- `quality.status`: `ok`, `limited_matches`, or `no_good_match`.
- Each result's `_final_score`, `_fit_scores`, `_recommendation_notes`, `_risk_flags`, `_review_confidence`, and `_review_evidence`.

If `semantic_search` is false, tell the user the run used keyword matching only and is weaker for cross-disciplinary topics.

If `quality.status` is `limited_matches` or `no_good_match`, do not pad the table with weak journals. Explain that constraints or keywords should be relaxed.

Treat review time carefully:

- `credible`: usable review-speed evidence.
- `limited` or `very_limited`: mention that the sample is sparse.
- `missing`: do not imply the journal is fast or slow.

## Output

Match the user's language. For Chinese users, use Chinese.

Present 5-8 recommended journals unless the user asks for a different count. Use this table:

```markdown
| 期刊名称 | JCR分区 | 中科院分区 | 影响因子 | OA/APC | 国人占比 | 年发文量 | 审稿周期(天) | 避坑提示 |
|----------|---------|-----------|---------|--------|---------|---------|-------------|---------|
```

Use `—` for missing values. After the table, briefly explain the top 3 journals:

- Why the journal fits the paper.
- What tradeoffs or risks exist.
- Whether it is a reach, solid-fit, or safer option.

Always prioritize topic fit over prestige, speed, or low APC. Flag prestigious but weak-fit journals as risky rather than recommending them confidently.

## Scope Notes

The database covers SSCI/AHCI humanities and social sciences broadly, including law. It can support law and adjacent areas such as criminology, legal sociology, governance, human rights, international law, environmental law, law and economics, and public policy.

The database is not designed for pure natural sciences, clinical medicine, environmental chemistry, engineering, or ecology. For out-of-scope topics, ask for the closest social science, humanities, or environmental-health angle.

## Common Failure Modes

- Missing database: ask for the project path or pass `--data-dir`.
- Missing semantic dependencies or FAISS index: proceed with keyword fallback, then mention that semantic search needs the project's dependency setup and `scripts/build_embeddings.py`.
- Overly narrow constraints: relax APC, quartile, review-data, or OA filters.
- Keywords too methodological: replace method-only terms with journal-scope concepts.

## Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

- **Author:** [yennhi85219-glitch](https://github.com/yennhi85219-glitch)
- **Source:** [yennhi85219-glitch/journal-finder](https://github.com/yennhi85219-glitch/journal-finder)
- **License:** MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.

## Pricing

- **Free** — Free

## Security capabilities

Automated source analysis of v0.1.0 — what this tool can access:

- **Network access:** no
- **Filesystem access:** no
- **Shell / process execution:** no
- **Environment & secrets:** no
- **Dynamic code execution:** no

*"Yes" means the capability is present in the source — more access means more to trust, not that it is unsafe.*


## Versions

- **0.1.0** — security scan: passed — Imported from the upstream source.

## Links

- Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/skill-yennhi85219-glitch-journal-finder-find-journal
- Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/yennhi85219-glitch
- Browse the marketplace: https://agentstack.voostack.com/browse

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