Predatory publishing
Publishing your research is a key part of building your academic career, but not all journals operate with integrity. Predatory journals can look legitimate but lack proper peer review and editorial standards. Publishing in a predatory journal can damage your academic reputation, limit the visibility of your work, and may prevent your research from being recognised or cited. This explainer helps you recognise them and choose trustworthy places to publish.
What is predatory publishing?
The term ‘predatory publishing’ is widely used, but some scholars have questioned its accuracy and appropriateness. But in 2019, a group of scholars and publishers from 10 countries shared their definition in Nature.
“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.”
Even with this definition, it can be challenging to determine if a journal is predatory. According to American librarian and scholar Jeffrey Beall, there is no real objective measure. It’s ultimately a subjective judgment that requires your own critical analysis
Understand the warning signs of a predatory publisher
Unsolicited or misleading communication
- Repeated, often flattering emails that invite you to submit work, especially when the journal is unrelated to your area of expertise
- Aggressive or indiscriminate solicitation
Questionable editorial practices
- Claims of peer review or editing processes that can’t be verified
- Listing researchers on editorial boards or in publicity without their knowledge or consent
False or misleading information
- Invented or misleading impact factors
- Using a name similar to a more established publisher
- “Hijacking” existing journal titles by creating duplicate websites or buying the rights to a title
Unusual publishing processes
- Requests to transfer your copyright for open access works, which is not standard practice
- Charging article processing fees after accepting your work, without advising you in advance
If you notice any of these signs, or if something feels off, use the tools below to make further checks.
Tools you can use to check a journal’s reputation
Cabells Journalytics
If you are unsure whether a journal is reputable, use Cabells Journalytics. It includes a ‘Predatory Reports’ section. This lists journals that meet their criteria which suggests they are predatory and should be avoided.
Predatory journals can use the same title as legitimate journals. This means when you do your search, you need to check for a complete match – including title, but also publisher and country of publication.
Predatory journals are a growing problem and may not be listed. The criteria in Cabells can also help you learn to make your own critical assessment.
Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)
If you want to publish open access, the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) provides a useful index that helps you check the quality of your chosen journal.
DOAJ has rigorous checks that ensure that only high-quality journals are listed in its index – it’s seen as the unofficial gold standard in the industry.
This was introduced in 2014, and includes a list of 58 questions. A further measure is to look for the DOAJ seal, which has an additional seven criteria. This is awarded to just 10% of journals that demonstrate best practice in open access publishing.
Predatory journals can be found in reputable academic databases
Predatory journals can be found in core subject databases and citation indexes. While reputable databases work to remove these titles, some may still be present. Scopus maintains a list of journals it has discontinued indexing, mostly due to publication concerns. You can view this by downloading the source titles list on the Scopus website, which includes a tab for discontinued sources. Clarivate also regularly removes titles from Web of Science, but does not publicly provide a list of these titles.
Get one-to-one support
If you need further help, you can book a Zoom meeting for one-to-one support or get email advice through librarians@monash.edu.