How credible is PLOS ONE?

PLOS ONE is a credible, peer-reviewed, open-access journal known for its broad scope and rigorous review of scientific validity, focusing on whether research is technically sound, ethically compliant, and reproducible, rather than novelty or perceived impact, making it generally reliable for foundational science but sometimes seen as mid-level compared to highly specialized journals. Its strength lies in its extensive screening for scientific rigor and transparency, though some debate its prestige compared to top-tier journals, while acknowledging its value for accessible, robust research.

Is Plos One reliable?

PLOS ONE is a fully peer reviewed journal with a rigorous multi-stage editorial screening and assessment process.

Is 2.5 a good impact factor for a journal?

Yes, a 2.5 impact factor (IF) is generally considered good or decent, falling into the respectable range for many fields, though it's not "top-tier" like journals with IFs of 10+; it signifies that articles in that journal are cited reasonably often, but its actual quality depends heavily on the specific research discipline, as averages vary significantly.
 

What is the rejection rate for PLOS?

At PLOS, out of every 100 submissions received, merely three make it through the editor's review and peer review. In other words, rejection rates in these journals are as high as 97 percent!

Is Plos one academic?

PLOS One accepts research in over two hundred subject areas across science, engineering, medicine, and the related social sciences and humanities. We evaluate research on the basis of scientific validity, strong methodology, and high ethical standards, selecting for research that contributes to academic knowledge.

What sets PLOS ONE apart?

What is the rank of PLOS One?

According to SCImago, ​PLOS ONE's SJR for 2024 is 0.803​, and it's classified as Q1 in the Multidisciplinary category. Yet, when you look at Web of Science, the Percentile Rank across all Multidisciplinary Sciences is about 67.4%, which puts it solidly high—but maybe not elite.

Is 2.7 a good impact factor?

You can find a journal's impact factor by referring to the Journal Citations Report (JCR) or Scopus. 🍋 What is an average 'good' impact factor? In general, an impact factor of 10 or higher is considered remarkable, while 3 is good, and the average score is less than 1.

What is the controversy with plos one?

Alleged sexism in one peer review instance

The reviewer argued that the authors should "find one or two male biologists to work with" to ensure the manuscript does not drift into "ideologically biased assumptions", comments which the authors found to be "unprofessional and inappropriate" and veering into sexism.

What are the top 5 journals?

There isn't a single "Top 5" list for all journals, as it depends on the field (e.g., Economics has its "Big Five": AER, Econometrica, JPE, QJE, RSt); while high-impact science/medicine often cites Nature, Science, NEJM, The Lancet, and Cell for broad influence, measured by metrics like Impact Factor or H5-index. Top journals are generally highly cited, prestigious, and influential in their specific disciplines, impacting careers and research visibility. 

What does PLOS stand for?

PLOS (for Public Library of Science; PLoS until 2012) is a nonprofit publisher of open-access journals in science, technology, and medicine and other scientific literature, under an open-content license. It was founded in 2000 and launched its first journal, PLOS Biology, in October 2003. Public Library of Science.

Can impact factor be manipulated?

However, impact factors may be manipulated by editors. According to the ex- planatory statements and announcements made by the authors submitting their work to the journals, the impact factor is still being di- rectly manipulated [4–6].

Is 8.5 a good impact factor?

Impact Factor Range

Between 3 and 10 - Good to very good, depending on the specific field. Between 1 and 3 - Average but respectable in many fields. Below 1 - Generally low but acceptable for niche or emerging fields.

Is an impact score of 30 good?

Impact scores run from 10 to 90, where 10 is best. Generally speaking, impact/priority scores of 10 to 30 are most likely to be funded; scores between 31 and 45 might be funded; scores greater than 46 are rarely funded.

Is it hard to publish in PLOS ONE?

Research published in PLOS One must have been conducted to the highest ethical standards. We reserve the right to reject any submission that does not meet these standards, which in some cases are more stringent than local ethical standards.

How do I know if a journal is predatory?

What is a Predatory Journal?

1. Have no rigorous peer review, editorial, or preservation services.
2. Have no quality control in their selection process.
3. Exploit open access publication models for the sole purpose of financial gain.

Is PLOS ONE indexed in PubMed?

To ensure research content is accessible and discoverable as widely as possible, all PLOS journals are widely indexed by major services such as Crossref, Dimensions, DOAJ, Google Scholar, PubMed Central, Scopus, Web of Science, and many more.

What is the most prestigious journal?

Most Prestigious Science Journals to Publish a Research Paper

• Nature.
• Science.
• Cell.
• Nature Reviews Drug Discovery (Nature Publishing Group)
• New England Journal of Medicine (Massachusetts Medical Society)
• Chemical Reviews (American Chemical Society Publications)
• The Lancet (Elsevier Publications)

What are Tier 1 journals?

A "Tier 1 journal" signifies a highly prestigious and influential academic publication within a specific field, characterized by rigorous peer review, high citation rates (often Q1 quartile), significant impact on research and practice, and broad recognition by experts, making publication there a major achievement for researchers. While definitions vary, Tier 1 generally represents the top 10-25% of journals in a subject area.
 

How to tell if a journal is credible?

The credibility of a journal may be assessed by examining several key factors:

1. Where is it indexed? Is the journal included or indexed in the major bibliographic databases for the field? ...
2. What is its publishing history? How long has the journal been available? ...
3. Is it peer-reviewed? ...
4. What is its impact factor?

What is the Elsevier controversy?

Elsevier controversies center on its high journal prices, "double-dipping" subscription/open-access fees, and perceived unethical business practices, leading to boycotts (like the UC system's) and mass editorial resignations. Researchers protest unpaid peer review, author rights, and perceived lack of quality control despite high fees, with ongoing concerns about climate-related data services and potential manipulation in peer review. 

Is 7.1 a good impact factor?

An Impact Factor of 7.1 means that Age and Ageing is now the fifth highest-ranked journal in the Geriatrics and Gerontology category. It has retained its place as the highest-impact clinical geriatrics journal in the world.

Does impact factor really matter?

Why does it matter? The Impact Factor matters because it is a quick, quantifiable measure of a journal's influence within the academic community.

How much impact factor is considered high?

A good impact factor can vary by field, but in many scientific disciplines, an IF above 5 or 10 is often considered high.