What is meant by a predatory journal?

Abstract. Predatory journals—also called fraudulent, deceptive, or pseudo-journals—are publications that claim to be legitimate scholarly journals, but misrepresent their publishing practices.

Is it good to publish in predatory journals?

Predatory journals use tactics that sway unsuspecting researchers, who are often under pressure to publish papers in high numbers. Publishing an article in a predatory journal affects your reputation as a researcher, and is a waste of your time and effort.

Are all paid journals predatory?

No, there are other types. For example, predatory journals may steal intellectual property through deception, engage in fraudulent or fake peer review, or list respected researchers on its editorial board without their knowledge or consent.

Are predatory journals illegal?

Although predatory publishing is exploitative and unethical, if the publisher is engaging in illegal behavior needs to be evaluated on a case by case basis. If and which journal is predatory is sometimes disputable and the best thing you can do is just not engage with a journal if you think it is predatory.

What are the characteristics of predatory journals?

Predatory journals are open-access medical journals that publish articles online with little or no peer review, low academic standards, and little credibility. They exist to publish scholarly journal articles for authors who require publications for their curricula vitae.

What is a predatory journal and why is it a problem? Tips to identify and avoid them

What are at least three signs that a journal is predatory?

What is an example of a predatory journal?

Some common forms of predatory publishing practices include falsely claiming to provide peer review, hiding information about Article Processing Charges (APCs), misrepresenting members of the journal's editorial board, and other violations of copyright or scholarly ethics.

How do you know if a publication is predatory?

Salient features of potential predatory biomed journals

The website contains spelling and grammar errors. Images are distorted/fuzzy, intended to look like something they are not, or which are unauthorized. The homepage language targets authors. The Index Copernicus Value is promoted on the website.

How do you identify predatory publishing?

Why I published in a predatory journal?

These 'predatory' journals make money through article processing charges (APCs). However, these fees are often in excess of what the journals actually require for publication purposes, which implies that these institutions are more like businesses and are not truly interested in academic scholarship.

How do I know if a journal is legitimate?

About the Journal

Examine the aims and scope: are they appropriate for your research? Review past issues: does the content look topical and credible? Are the authors known to you? If open access, is it registered in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) The DOAJ vets journals before listing them.

How do you know if an academic journal is predatory?

Is plos predatory?

No, PLoS One is definitely NOT a predatory journal. It is different from other academic journals, in that the explicit goal is for submissions to be reviewed for rigor rather than for impact or citability.

What to do after publishing in a predatory journal?

If your paper is published online by a predatory journal, you may write to the office of the predatory journal and ask them to withdraw the paper from their website. Although you are not guaranteed to get a response from a predatory journal, their paper might be taken down from the website.

Which of the following is a red flag for identifying a predatory journal?

Unclear or deceptive publishing fees and copyright policies. Fake names are listed on the editorial staff. Names of prominent scholars are included as editors without the knowledge or consent of these individuals. Published articles are plagiarized, completely fake, are scientifically unsound, or low quality.

Who are the victims of predatory journals?

First-time authors are particularly vulnerable because they may be unaware of these journals, but experienced authors have been victims as well. Here's what you need to know about predatory journals and how to protect yourself.

Are predatory journals fake?

Predatory Journals take advantage of authors by asking them to publish for a fee without providing peer-review or editing services. Because predatory publishers do not follow the proper academic standards for publishing, they usually offer a quick turnaround on publishing a manuscript.

How do you avoid predatory journals?

The websites of predatory journals will try to mimic high quality journals. Common markers to spot predatory journals include no detail of the peer review process, unclear fees, no or fake editorial boards and lies about indexing. More help on this later.

How to differentiate between the reliable journals and predatory journals?

Some ways to identify predatory journals include checking the journal's website for clear and transparent editorial policies, examining the composition and credentials of the editorial board, reviewing published articles for quality, and consulting reputable resources and databases that list trusted journals in the ...

What are the most common complaints of predatory publications?

Is Frontiers a predatory journal?

All Frontiers journals are published under a Creative Commons Attribution License. In 2015, Frontiers Media was classified as a possible predatory publisher by Jeffrey Beall. Based on a series of information published here, we decided to include the Frontiers Media journals on the predatory publications list.

Why are predatory journals bad?

Articles accepted by predatory publishers are considered to be “previously published,” and as such, legitimate publishers may not be able to accept them for publication in one of their journals. Predatory journals are generally ignored or not indexed into academic databases, decreasing readership and impact.

What are the consequences of predatory journals?

- Damaging the external reputation of the authors. - Receiving an unreasonable bill for publication fees after the acceptance of the manuscript. - Unable to retract the manuscript after it has been submitted or accepted for publication.

What is the difference between high impact and predatory journals?

A higher impact factor is an indication that a journal is more influential in its field of study. Predatory journals often publish fake impact factors, or do not list one at all. You can check a journal title's impact factor via Journal Citation Reports, available through Web of Science.

What are the benefits of predatory journals?

Experts [5] believe that there are now more than 15,000 predatory journals, which promise: Peer review with a fast turnaround time. Low author processing fees—low in comparison to some of the top tier journals, but high in terms of what authors get for their money.