Table of contents
Saleh Ramezani
November 24, 2023
Table of contents

In the competitive world of academia, publishing research findings in reputable journals is the pinnacle of academic success. It validates your work and paves the way for future opportunities.

Traditionally, researchers aimed for the big leagues – prestigious journals with rigorous peer review and selective acceptance rates. These gatekeepers held the key to academic legitimacy, carefully curating the knowledge shared with the world.

But then came the open-access revolution. Tired of paywalls and limited reach, researchers embraced a new model: open-access publishing. Here, authors pay a fee to have their work published, making it freely available to anyone with an internet connection.

It was a democratic dream – research for the people, by the people! But as with any good plot twist, there was a hidden villain lurking in the shadows – the predatory publishers.

  • Predatory journals are deceptive publications that prioritize profit over academic rigor. They often lack proper peer review, charge hidden or excessive fees, and use aggressive solicitation tactics to attract researchers.

  • Researchers may sometimes publish in predatory journals due to the pressure to publish, lack of awareness about predatory journals, and academic incentives that reward quantity over quality.

  • Predatory journals damage the scientific community by spreading misinformation, undermining the credibility of individual researchers, and diminishing valuable research funding.

  • Predatory journals can be hard to spot. Be wary of unprofessional websites, unexpected fees, and pushy solicitations. Seek help from librarians and use “Think Check Submit” to verify a journal’s legitimacy.

The Rise of Predatory Publishers

The open-access movement promised to break down barriers in scientific accessibility. By removing subscription fees, open access journals aimed to make research more available, promoting greater visibility and impact.

However, this noble intention also created an opening for exploitation. One of the problems in academia in the last decade has been the rise of so-called “predatory” journals. The term was coined by the University of Colorado librarian Jeffrey Beall and refers to journals which conduct either sham or inadequate peer-reviews, allowing research of questionable quality to become a part of the scholarly record [1].

Predatory publishers mimic legitimate scholarly journals but prioritize profit over academic integrity. They deceive researchers through dubious journal titles, lack of meaningful peer review, hidden or unexpected fees, and aggressive solicitation tactics.

Predatory Publishing Journals

Why Scientists Publish in Predatory Journals

Researchers’ motivations for publishing in predatory journals are multifaceted, often driven by the intense “publish or perish” culture within academia. This pressure is compounded by the desire for rapid publication, the quest for academic recognition, and sometimes a lack of awareness about the journal’s credibility. Let’s review these factors in more detail.

  • Pressure to Publish: The relentless pressure to publish within academia often leads researchers toward journals offering rapid publication, even if they lack rigorous peer review process. When academic promotions, funding, or positions hinge primarily on publication count, a loophole is created, unfortunately rewarding those who publish in predatory journals for the sake of quantity over quality [2], [3].

  • Lack of Awareness:  Some researchers may not be fully aware of the predatory nature of certain journals when they submit their work. This lack of awareness can be attributed to the deceptive practices of these journals, such as false claims about indexing and impact factors
    [4].

  • Desire for Rapid Publication:  Given the slow pace of traditional peer review, researchers under time pressure to publish their findings may turn to journals that promise fast publication. This is especially tempting for early-career researchers or those working in highly competitive fields.

  • Global Research Dynamics:  The global spread of research activities means that researchers from a wide range of economic backgrounds are seeking publication outlets. Those from lower-income countries might find open-access fees in reputable journals prohibitive, making predatory journals, which often charge lower fees, more attractive despite their lack of credibility [5].

Consequences of Predatory Publishing

The damage caused by predatory publishing is multi-faceted, and ripples through the entire research ecosystem. Its influence is not confined to an individual researcher’s reputation. By eroding the very foundation of trusted knowledge, predatory publishers threaten the progress of science, obstruct well-informed decision-making, and exploit the open exchange of ideas that academic progress rests upon. Some of the most dangerous consequences of predatory publishing include:

  • Undermining Research Integrity:  Unverified work circulating as a “peer-reviewed” publication harms the overall quality of the scientific record. Misleading or flawed research might distort future work and obstruct valuable research avenues.

  • Damage to Researcher Reputation:  When a researcher inadvertently publishes in a predatory journal, their credibility can be significantly harmed. Hiring committees, granting agencies, and potential collaborators may question their judgment and the rigor of their work.

  • Public Misinformation:  Predatory journals lack the quality control needed to filter out harmful, false, or inaccurate research. Findings with a dubious, profit-driven agenda may find their way into the hands of policymakers or the public, causing potential harm due to misleading information (examples – anti-vaccination studies, climate change denial).

  • Financial Waste:  The publishing fees that predatory publishers charge may seem modest initially, but they represent wasted resources that could have supported rigorous research through ethical open-access channels.

Identifying Predatory Publishers

While the rise of predatory journals poses a significant threat to academic integrity, a major barrier to curbing their spread lies in how difficult they can be to identify. The lack of a universally accepted definition of predatory journals hampers efforts to combat them, drawing parallels to medical conditions
like aneurysms. where definitions significantly influence prevalence and treatment approaches [6].

Historically, variations in defining an aneurysm – a dangerous bulge in the body’s largest artery – significantly influenced assessments of risk and the need for intervention. Similarly, a consensus on what constitutes a predatory journal is crucial for developing effective strategies to mitigate their impact.

Efforts have focused on identifying surface issues like sloppy websites, pay-to-publish models, and questionable solicitation emails. However, journals can be predatory even without all these signs. Experts convened to develop a more solid definition of a predatory journal.

“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.”

Here are some tips on how to identify predatory journals:

  • Rapid Publication Turnaround:  The peer-review process ensures work is vetted by experts in the field before publication, meaning a quality assessment takes time. Ideally, this process would be faster, but the reality is that it takes a while to secure busy reviewers in academia, coordinate their feedback, and often, request revisions from the authors. A journal that seems to accept and publish papers within days or a couple of weeks likely lacks proper peer review.

  • Hidden or Excessive Fees:  Reputable open-access journals are transparent about their article processing charges. Beware of vague fee structures, unexpected cost increases during the publishing process, or demands for payment for services (e.g., basic editing) that are standard in established publications.

  • Persistent Solicitations:  Constant spam emails that are flattering yet generic (without citing specific reasons for the journal’s interest in your research) are a hallmark of predatory practices. Remember, serious journals typically receive sufficient submissions without resorting to mass solicitation campaigns.

  • Fake Editorial Boards:  Investigate the listed editorial board members. Are they recognized scholars in the field? Do they have affiliations with reputable institutions? A lack of established scholars or non-existent board members is a major red flag.

  • Typos and Poor Formatting:  Pay attention to the journal’s website and any sample articles. Sloppy design, multiple typos, and dubious-looking formatting all suggest a lack of professionalism and rigorous quality control.

  • Indexing Scrutiny:  Predatory journals often claim to be indexed in reputable databases but you should verify this on databases like PubMed or SCOPUS. If the journal does not appear, that’s another warning sign.

The Challenge of New Journals

It’s essential to acknowledge that not all new or small journals are predatory. Many are building a robust editorial process and aiming for the high standards of the field. If there’s doubt about a particular journal, utilize tools like “Think Check Submit” (https://thinkchecksubmit.org/) for more informed evaluations, and get support from your university library or research support offices.

As predatory publishers adapt their schemes, remaining aware of evolving warning signs is key. Resources provided by libraries, universities, and scholarly organizations offer reliable guides for navigating the increasingly complex landscape of academic publishing.

Combating the Predatory Menace

Battling predatory publishers requires a combined effort from researchers, institutions, and advocates of scholarly integrity:

  • Researcher Awareness: Education about predatory tactics is paramount. Universities can offer workshops and support systems to help identify potentially deceptive outlets. Researchers must do their due diligence by verifying an outlet’s reputation through cross-checking publications against sources like institutional affiliations and scholarly databases.

  • Institutional and Library Support:  Policies within academia that guide scholarly output and provide mechanisms for vetting journals mitigate the risk of falling prey to predatory publishers. Librarians play a key educational role, offering valuable training.

  • The Role of Whitelists:  Resources like the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) act as whitelists, helping researchers pinpoint legitimate, vetted publications.

  • Sustainable Open Access Models:  Developing alternative open access models that are ethical, transparent in costs, and committed to quality review systems is crucial to curb the negative trends. Many funding agencies encourage open-access but institute their own vetting criteria to support credible outlets.

  • Collective Action:  Scientific communities and professional organizations can promote clear guidelines for reputable practices within their disciplines, ensuring standards are universally upheld.

Conclusion

Predatory publishing casts a shadow over the world of scientific accessibillity and communication. This threat jeopardizes scientific progress, individual careers, and the public’s understanding of crucial issues. In an increasingly open scholarly landscape, vigilance protects the ideals that open-access was meant to embody. Most researchers desire to share their work ethically and contribute to the advancement of knowledge. Predatory publishers exploit this good intent by corrupting a system meant to facilitate scholarly exchange.

Through informed awareness about red flags, support from ethical stakeholders in the science community, and active advocacy for a responsible open-access future, we can uphold the standards essential for preserving the integrity of scientific research.

References


[1] J. Beall, “Predatory publishers are corrupting open access,” Nature, vol. 489, no. 7415, Art. no. 7415, Sep. 2012, doi: 10.1038/489179a.

[2] M. Balehegn, “Increased Publication in Predatory Journals by Developing Countries’ Institutions: What It Entails? And What Can Be Done?,” Int. Inf. Libr. Rev., vol. 49, no. 2, pp. 97–100, Apr. 2017, doi: 10.1080/10572317.2016.1278188.

[3] D. Pyne, “The Rewards of Predatory Publications at a Small Business School,” J. Sch. Publ., vol. 48, no. 3, pp. 137–160, Apr. 2017, doi: 10.3138/jsp.48.3.137.

[4] D. Moher et al., “Stop this waste of people, animals and money,” Nature, vol. 549, no. 7670, Art. no. 7670, Sep. 2017, doi: 10.1038/549023a.

[5] M. Grančay, J. Vveinhardt, and Ē. Šumilo, “Publish or perish: how Central and Eastern European economists have dealt with the ever-increasing academic publishing requirements 2000–2015,” Scientometrics, vol. 111, no. 3, pp. 1813–1837, Jun. 2017, doi: 10.1007/s11192-017-2332-z.

[6] A. Grudniewicz et al., “Predatory journals: no definition, no defence,” Nature, vol. 576, no. 7786, pp. 210–212, Dec. 2019, doi: 10.1038/d41586-019-03759-y.

Saleh Ramezani

Saleh Ramezani, PhD

Saleh Ramezani is the founder and co-host of Better Science. Saleh believes that science literacy is crucial for navigating today’s science-driven world. Saleh is currently a post-doctoral researcher at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

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