Open-access is a model for publishing scholarly, peer-reviewed journals on the Internet that relies on sources of funding other than subscription fees. Some publishers and editors have exploited the author-pays model of open-access, publishing for their own profit. Submissions are encouraged through widely distributed e-mails on behalf of a growing number of journals that may accept many or all submissions and subject them to little, if any, peer review or editorial oversight. Bogus conference invitations are distributed in a similar fashion. The results of these less than ethical practices might include loss of faculty member time and money, inappropriate article inclusions in curriculum vitae, and costs to the college or funding source.
Bowman, J. D. (2014). Predatory Publishing, Questionable Peer Review, and Fraudulent Conferences. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 78(10), 176.
From Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library, George Washington University
Start with Think, Check, Submit
What fees will you be charged? Are the Article Processing Charges (APCs) and if so, what are they?
Can you rescind your submission at any time?
Are there typographical errors or editing mistakes on web pages or within other communications?
Have you received unsolicited e-mails or even SPAM?
Have you heard of the publication name? Does it sound a lot like another established journal?
If you are unsure if a journal is predatory, please feel free to ask your librarian for assistance.
What is predatory publishing?
Predatory publishers are unethical in their publishing practices by not following industry standards, usually aggressive in manuscript solicitation tactics, and deceitful about their business operations and services. "They exist primarily to extract fees from authors" (Sorokowski et al. 2017, 481) and are far less concerned with research and publishing ethics (Beall 2017, 275).
Does this mean that all open access publishing is a scam?
No, there are many reputable open access (OA) journals. While OA is a newer form of scholarly publishing, many OA journals comply with well-established peer-review processes and maintain high publishing standards. For more information on OA: http://legacy.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/overview.htm.
How can I tell whether a journal is legitimate or predatory?
Here is a quick list of red flags to look for:
Are there tools to evaluate Open Access Journals?
Yes. Miner Library has a website dedicated to Open Access publishing that includes guidance on evaluating open access journals. For quick reference, here is a list of qualities to look for:
What is a predatory conference and how can I avoid them?
In addition to predatory publishers, recently the number of predatory conferences has grown. A predatory conference aggressively solicits participation from researchers to present at their event. To avoid a predatory conference, look for following warnings:
Is there someone at URMC who can help me?
Yes. You can contact Miner Library through Ask A Librarian to submit a question about publishing.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently released a statement intended to "protect the credibility of published research" by encouraging authors to publish papers resulting from NIH-funded research in reputable journals. You can read the full statement here.
Jeffrey Beall, a University of Colorado-Denver librarian maintained an updated list of individual journals and publishers that he viewed as "potentially predatory." In January 2017, he stopped maintaining his Scholarly Open Access blog.