Predatory publishing practices: what researchers should know before submitting their manuscript is an article by Cenyu Shen and Leena Shah, recently published in Insights.
The authors point out that predatory publishing is a significant problem in the world of research and scholarly communication. The article refers to deceptive and unethical practices by certain publishers and journals that exploit the open-access publishing model for financial gain, often at the expense of researchers’ and scientific integrity. These practices can have a detrimental impact on the quality and credibility of academic literature.
Watchlists
The authors recommend that researchers should not solely rely on watchlists of predatory publishers, as these lists may not be exhaustive or up to date.
Instead, researchers should develop the skills to detect predatory practices themselves. This includes scrutinizing the journal’s website, examining its editorial board, assessing the quality of previously published articles, and checking for a clear and transparent peer review process.
Practical Guidance
The article concludes by offering practical guidance for researchers:
- Look for journals and publishers with a reputable history and established impact factors.
- Check if the journal is indexed in widely recognized databases like PubMed, Web of Science, or Scopus.
- Review the journal’s publication fees, as exorbitant fees are a common characteristic of predatory journals.
- Seek advice from colleagues and mentors when in doubt about a journal’s legitimacy.
- Utilize resources such as the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) and Think.Check.Submit. to assess the credibility of potential publishing venues.
Read the full article https://bit.ly/3LWTqrT
