Blog - 18

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐬: 𝐀 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬

A predatory journal is an unethical academic publication that exploits researchers by charging high fees for the publication of articles without providing proper peer review, editorial services, or quality control. These journals often present themselves as legitimate scholarly outlets but prioritize profit over the integrity of research. They attract authors, particularly those under pressure to publish, by promising quick publication with little to no editorial scrutiny.

In the world of academic publishing, predatory journals have become a growing concern for researchers, especially early-career scholars. These journals prioritize profit over proper academic practices, often exploiting the desire of researchers to publish their work. Here’s a guide to help you identify and avoid predatory journals.

𝟭. 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀

𝗟𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: Predatory journals often claim to have a peer review process but do not actually follow through with rigorous review. Articles may be published within days of submission, without substantial feedback or revisions.
𝗘𝘅𝗼𝗿𝗯𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝘀: These journals typically demand high fees for publication without transparency about why these fees are necessary. Legitimate journals may charge fees, but they are upfront about their processes and costs.
𝗙𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘀: Some predatory journals advertise impact factors or other metrics that are either nonexistent or fabricated. Check for recognized databases like Clarivate Analytics’ Journal Citation Reports or Scopus for legitimate journal metrics.

𝟮. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹'𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗪𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲: Predatory journals often have poorly designed websites with grammatical errors, unprofessional layouts, or vague information about the editorial board. Look for established publishers that are well-known in your field.
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀: Use reputable databases like Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), PubMed, or Scopus to verify if the journal is legitimate. If the journal is not indexed in any trusted database, it’s a red flag.
𝗔𝘀𝗸 𝗣𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀: Seek advice from experienced researchers in your field. They can often identify suspicious journals based on their own experience and help guide you toward credible outlets.

𝟯. 𝗘𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱

𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺: Predatory journals often list prominent academics on their editorial boards without their knowledge or consent. Verify the editorial board members by cross-referencing their profiles on platforms like LinkedIn, ResearchGate, or university websites.
𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗼𝗽𝗲: Predatory journals tend to have broad or ill-defined scopes that allow them to publish a wide variety of papers. Legitimate journals typically have a focused scope with specialized topics within a particular discipline.

𝟰. 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘀

𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝘀: A legitimate journal will provide clear information about publication fees, including whether they charge for article processing or publication. Be cautious of journals that demand payment before your paper is even reviewed.
𝗣𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: The journal should describe its peer review process in detail. Journals that skip this step or offer an unusually quick turnaround are likely predatory.
𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗻𝗴: Reputable journals ensure that published articles are archived and indexed in recognized databases. Verify whether the journal has clear archiving policies and is listed in databases like Google Scholar or Web of Science.

𝟱. 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀

𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹’𝘀 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁: Although Beall’s List is no longer actively maintained, many scholars still refer to its archived version as a guide for identifying predatory journals.
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸. 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸. 𝗦𝘂𝗯𝗺𝗶𝘁.: This initiative provides researchers with a checklist to evaluate journals before submitting a manuscript. It helps to identify trustworthy journals based on various criteria.
𝗖𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀’ 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁: This database lists journals that are suspected of predatory behavior, providing a valuable resource for researchers.

𝟲. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘆 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗱

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀: Academic institutions often provide resources or workshops on predatory publishing. Stay updated on these issues and familiarize yourself with current trends.
𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀: Engaging with academic networks, whether through conferences or online platforms like ResearchGate, helps you stay aware of reputable journals in your field.

Publishing in predatory journals can damage your academic reputation and waste valuable time and resources. By carefully evaluating journals before submitting your work, you can avoid these pitfalls and contribute meaningfully to your field. Always prioritize quality over quick publication and consult trusted resources to ensure your research is published in credible and respected outlets.

Written By:

𝐓𝐚𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫 𝐀𝐡𝐦𝐞𝐝

Content Lead, BIIHR