Predatory journals
What is predatory publishing?
Predatory publishing is an exploitive academic publishing business model that involves charging publication fees to authors without checking articles for quality and legitimacy and without providing the other editorial and publishing services that legitimate academic journals provide, whether open access or not. They are regarded as predatory because scholars are tricked into publishing with them although the journal is poor quality or even fraudulent. New scholars from developing countries are said to be especially at risk of being misled by predatory publishers (Kearney, 2015; Xia et al., 2015). According to one study, 60% of articles published in predatory journals receive no citations over the five-year period following publication (Björk et al., 2020; Brainard, 2020).
In addition, many sham publishers have expanded their business to predatory conferences. Predatory conferences may appear at first glance scientifically credible, but usually more thorough investigation reveals the problems associated with them. They are organised by companies rather than scientific societies; they charge hefty participation fees from the participants, and the number of participants and the scientific quality of presentations is low.
The definition
Leading scholars and publishers from ten countries have agreed a definition of predatory publishing that can protect scholarship. It took 12 hours of discussion, 18 questions and 3 rounds to reach. […]
The consensus definition reached was: “Predatory journals and publishers are entities that prioritize self-interest at the expense of scholarship and are characterized by false or misleading information, deviation from best editorial and publication practices, a lack of transparency, and/or the use of aggressive and indiscriminate solicitation practices.”
Grudniewicz et al., 2019. Predatory journals: No definition, no defence. Nature (London), 576(7786), 210–212.
Watch this video (6:18) by Universität Innsbruck: Predatory journals: A call for open peer review.
How to deal with predatory publishers?
When choosing a publishing channel, beware of these dishonest predatory OA publishers. These scientifically questionable OA journals often neglect peer-reviewing and mainly aim to cash in from scientists.
At UEF, Cabells Predatory Reports can be used for checking potential predatory journals. If you are not UEF staff or student, check your own institution’s library for access. It’s also good to check that the journal has at least a JUFO classification 1.
UEF Library’s blog post Beware of predators! is worth reading. Being aware of these characteristics can help you avoid predatory journals and ensure your research is published on reputable channels.
Also, visit Think. Check. Submit. (Fig. 9) where you will find tips about how to publish in a suitable journal and how to avoid predatory journals. To avoid predatory conferences, please visit Think. Check. Attend.
Remember:
- Avoid predatory journals by utilising services like Think. Check. Submit. and Cabells Predatory Reports.
- Discuss openly with your colleagues about reliable OA publishers.
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