What Is a Predatory Journal?

Predatory journals are unethical academic publications that exploit the open-access publishing model for financial gain. Unlike legitimate journals, which uphold rigorous peer-review standards to ensure the quality and credibility of the research they publish, predatory journals prioritize profit over academic integrity. They often charge hefty article processing fees without providing the promised editorial and review services.

These journals typically lack transparency, have questionable editorial boards, and frequently use aggressive tactics to solicit manuscripts from unsuspecting researchers. They prey on academics, particularly those under pressure to publish, by offering fast-tracked publications with minimal or no peer review.

Publishing in a predatory journal can harm a researcher’s reputation, waste valuable resources, and contribute to the dissemination of unreliable or substandard research. Understanding the characteristics of predatory journals and how to identify them is crucial for protecting the integrity of academic work and ensuring the advancement of science and knowledge.

What is a Predatory Journal, and How is it Defined?

A predatory journal can be defined as:

An exploitative publication that charges authors fees for publishing their work without providing the legitimate editorial and peer-review services expected in scholarly publishing.

A predatory journal is an unethical academic publication that prioritizes profit over scholarly integrity. These journals exploit the pressure on researchers to publish by offering fast and easy publication processes, often bypassing the rigorous peer-review and editorial standards that legitimate journals uphold. They are characterized by deceptive practices such as misrepresenting their editorial boards, falsely claiming impact factors, and aggressively soliciting submissions through spam emails.

Predatory journals often charge substantial fees for publishing articles without providing the promised quality checks, transparency, or indexing in reputable databases. They rarely reject submissions, regardless of quality, as their primary goal is to maximize revenue. Researchers who publish in predatory journals may face damage to their reputation, waste resources, and inadvertently contribute to the dissemination of unreliable research. Thus, predatory journals are defined as exploitative outlets that undermine the principles of scholarly publishing by compromising quality and integrity for financial gain.

Why are they referred to as “predatory”?

Predatory journals are referred to as “predatory” because their practices exploit researchers in ways that are deceptive, unethical, and harmful. The term highlights their opportunistic nature, much like predators in the natural world who prey on the vulnerable. These journals target academics, particularly those under pressure to publish or those with limited experience in scholarly publishing. They lure researchers with promises of rapid publication, minimal or non-existent peer review, and exaggerated claims about their credibility, such as false impact factors or fake affiliations with reputable institutions.

The predatory behavior extends to aggressive solicitation, where researchers are inundated with emails inviting them to submit papers or attend low-quality conferences. Once a submission is made, these journals often charge exorbitant fees, which are sometimes concealed until the final stages of the process. By focusing solely on extracting money rather than contributing to the advancement of knowledge, predatory journals exploit the trust and resources of researchers.

The consequences of publishing in such journals can be severe, including reputational damage, loss of credibility, and the dissemination of substandard research. This exploitative dynamic—taking advantage of researchers’ ambitions and vulnerabilities for financial gain—aptly defines these journals as “predatory,” underscoring the need for vigilance and awareness in academic publishing.

Key Characteristics of Predatory Journals

The academic publishing landscape has grown increasingly complex, with legitimate journals competing alongside unethical ones for researchers’ attention. Among the latter are predatory journals and exploitative publications that undermine the integrity of scholarly work by prioritizing profit over quality. Recognizing the key characteristics of predatory journals is essential for researchers to protect their work and reputation. Below are the defining traits that set predatory journals apart from reputable ones.

• Lack of Rigorous Peer Review: One of the defining characteristics of predatory journals is their failure to conduct a proper peer-review process. Peer review is a cornerstone of academic publishing, ensuring that research is thoroughly evaluated for accuracy, validity, and originality by experts in the field. Predatory journals, however, prioritize speed and profit, often bypassing or significantly abbreviating this process. Manuscripts are frequently accepted without critical evaluation, and in some cases, articles are published as-is, regardless of errors, unethical practices, or substandard quality. This lack of scrutiny allows unreliable or poorly executed research to enter the scholarly record.
• Aggressive Solicitation: Predatory journals are known for their relentless and unsolicited attempts to attract researchers. They often send mass emails to academics, inviting them to submit papers, join their editorial boards, or participate in dubious conferences. These emails are typically generic, overly flattering, and sometimes misleading, claiming that the researcher’s work is highly regarded. The aggressive nature of these solicitations can be overwhelming, particularly for early-career researchers or those unfamiliar with scholarly publishing practices.
• Deceptive Editorial Practices: Many predatory journals engage in deceptive editorial practices to create an illusion of legitimacy. They may list prominent academics or researchers on their editorial boards without their knowledge or consent, or they might use fictitious names. Additionally, there is often minimal involvement from the editorial team in evaluating submissions. In legitimate journals, editorial boards play an active role in maintaining publication standards, but in predatory journals, this responsibility is largely ignored, undermining the credibility of the publication.
• Exaggerated Impact Metrics: Predatory journals often inflate their credibility by falsely claiming high-impact factors or inventing metrics that mimic legitimate ones. They may advertise affiliations with well-known indexing services like Clarivate Analytics or Scopus, even when such claims are untrue. Sometimes, they create their own indexing services or fake impact factor systems to mislead authors into believing they are submitting to a reputable outlet. This practice misguides researchers who may not be familiar with how to verify such claims.
• Hidden or Unclear Fees: While many legitimate open-access journals charge Article Processing Charges (APCs) to cover publishing costs, these fees are typically disclosed upfront. Predatory journals, however, often conceal their fees until after a manuscript has been accepted, leaving authors with little choice but to pay if they want their work published. This lack of transparency is a hallmark of predatory practices, as it exploits researchers’ eagerness to publish and pressures them into making financial commitments.
• Lack of Transparency: Predatory journals operate with a significant lack of transparency regarding their policies, processes, and organizational structures. They often do not provide clear submission guidelines or editorial workflows, leaving authors uncertain about how their manuscripts will be handled. Furthermore, they frequently obscure details about their ownership or geographical location, making it difficult for researchers to verify their legitimacy or hold them accountable.
• Poor Website Quality: The websites of predatory journals are often a giveaway of their lack of professionalism. These sites are typically poorly designed, featuring grammatical errors, broken links, and plagiarized or irrelevant content. A legitimate journal’s website is expected to reflect its commitment to scholarly excellence, with clear information about submission guidelines, editorial policies, and the peer-review process. In contrast, the disorganized and amateurish nature of predatory journal websites reflects their prioritization of profit over academic integrity.
• Questionable Indexing and Recognition: Predatory journals frequently claim to be indexed in reputable scholarly databases such as PubMed, Scopus, or Web of Science. However, these claims are often false or misleading. Instead, they may be listed in obscure or predatory indexing services that lack credibility. Legitimate indexing ensures that published research is discoverable and meets rigorous quality standards, but predatory journals exploit the value of indexing to deceive researchers and increase their submission rates.
• Overuse of Broad and Generic Titles: Many predatory journals adopt overly broad or generic titles, such as “International Journal of Scientific Research” or “Global Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies.” These names are designed to attract submissions from a wide range of disciplines, regardless of the journal’s actual scope or expertise. Such generic titles can make it difficult for researchers to discern the journal’s focus, further complicating the identification of legitimate outlets.
• Non-Compliance with Ethical Standards: Predatory journals often disregard ethical guidelines established by organizations like the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). They may tolerate unethical practices, including plagiarism, falsified data, or conflicts of interest. Legitimate journals enforce strict policies to uphold the integrity of the research they publish, but predatory journals prioritize revenue generation, compromising the ethical foundations of scholarly publishing.

Predatory journals pose a significant threat to the academic community, exploiting researchers’ ambitions and vulnerabilities for financial gain. Researchers can avoid falling into their traps by recognizing their key characteristics, such as a lack of peer review, deceptive editorial practices, and hidden fees. The fight against predatory publishing requires awareness, education, and collective action to uphold the standards of academic excellence and safeguard the integrity of scholarly work.

How Can Researchers Identify a Predatory Journal?

Identifying a predatory journal requires a critical evaluation of the journal’s practices, claims, and presentation. Predatory journals often bypass academic standards, aiming to exploit researchers who are under pressure to publish. A key indicator is the absence of a rigorous peer-review process. Legitimate journals subject submissions to thorough evaluation by experts, which can take weeks or even months. In contrast, predatory journals promise unrealistic publication timelines, often accepting articles without meaningful reviews or edits. This lack of scrutiny compromises the quality and credibility of the research they publish.

Another red flag is the composition and transparency of the editorial board. Researchers should investigate the qualifications and affiliations of the listed editors. Predatory journals frequently list fake or unrelated individuals or even prominent researchers without their consent. Similarly, their websites often exhibit poor design, containing grammatical errors, vague submission guidelines, and misleading claims about metrics or indexing. These flaws reflect a lack of professionalism and commitment to scholarly integrity.

Indexing and impact metrics also require careful scrutiny. Predatory journals frequently claim affiliations with reputable indexing services like Scopus or PubMed, but these claims are often false. Researchers should verify indexing through official databases and use trusted tools such as the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) or Clarivate’s Journal Citation Reports. Additionally, legitimate journals disclose their Article Processing Charges (APCs) transparently. Predatory journals, however, often hide fees until after acceptance, exploiting authors’ eagerness to publish.

Aggressive solicitation emails are another hallmark of predatory journals. These emails often contain generic or overly flattering language and promise fast publication with high visibility. Researchers should be wary of such unsolicited invitations and evaluate the journal’s scope and past publications. A legitimate journal will have a well-defined focus and high-quality articles, whereas predatory journals publish poorly formatted or plagiarized content from unrelated fields.

Finally, membership in ethical organizations like the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) or adherence to guidelines provided by Think. Check. Submit. can serve as useful benchmarks for assessing a journal’s credibility. Researchers must combine these checks with their judgment to distinguish reputable journals from predatory ones. By being vigilant and critical, researchers can safeguard their work and contribute to the integrity of scholarly publishing.

What Are the Consequences of Publishing in a Predatory Journal for Researchers?

The academic world places a high premium on publishing, often using it as a benchmark for assessing researchers’ credibility, career progression, and contributions to their fields. However, the pressure to “publish or perish” has created opportunities for exploitative practices, particularly by predatory journals. While these journals promise fast and easy publication, the consequences of publishing in them can be profoundly negative, affecting researchers both professionally and personally. Here are the key consequences of publishing in predatory journals for researchers.

1. Damage to Academic Reputation: A researcher’s reputation is one of their most valuable assets. Publishing in a predatory journal can tarnish this reputation, as such journals lack rigorous peer review and academic integrity. Colleagues, funding bodies, and academic institutions may perceive publications in predatory outlets as indicative of poor judgment or desperation. This can diminish trust in the researcher’s work and limit opportunities for collaboration, funding, or employment.
2. Reduced Visibility and Impact of Research: Predatory journals are often excluded from reputable indexing services like PubMed, Scopus, or Web of Science. As a result, articles published in these journals have limited visibility, making them harder for other researchers to discover, cite, or build upon. This drastically reduces the impact of the research and the researcher’s ability to contribute meaningfully to their field.
3. Wasted Resources: Publishing in predatory journals often comes with high Article Processing Charges (APCs), which are frequently hidden until after manuscript acceptance. These costs are rarely justified, as predatory journals do not provide the editorial or distribution services expected from legitimate publishers. This results in wasted financial resources that could have been allocated to more credible and impactful publication opportunities.
4. Stagnation in Career Progression; Academic careers often depend on publishing in high-quality journals. Hiring committees, promotion panels, and funding bodies evaluate researchers based on the credibility and impact of their publications. Articles in predatory journals are often discounted or discredited during these evaluations, potentially stalling career advancements, tenure opportunities, or funding applications.
5. Loss of Research Credibility: The lack of rigorous peer review in predatory journals means that published articles are often riddled with errors, questionable methodologies, or flawed conclusions. This undermines the credibility of the research and the researcher. In some cases, the association with low-quality publications can lead to skepticism about the researcher’s entire body of work.
6. Ethical and Legal Implications: Predatory journals frequently engage in unethical practices, such as publishing articles without proper permission or misusing authors’ work. Researchers may unknowingly become complicit in these practices, facing potential ethical or legal repercussions. For instance, publishing sensitive or proprietary data in such journals could lead to violations of research ethics or intellectual property laws.
7. Difficulty Retracting Work: Once an article is published in a predatory journal, retracting it or submitting it to a legitimate journal becomes exceedingly difficult. Predatory journals often lack standard retraction policies or may refuse to remove the article altogether. This leaves researchers with little control over their work and limits their ability to correct or redistribute their findings to credible outlets.
8. Strained Collaborations: Publishing in predatory journals can create a stigma that affects collaborations. Colleagues and institutions may hesitate to associate with a researcher whose work is tied to unethical publishing practices. This can lead to a decline in collaborative opportunities, reducing the researcher’s ability to engage in multidisciplinary or international research initiatives.
9. Contribution to the Erosion of Academic Integrity: Researchers inadvertently support unethical publishing practices by publishing in predatory journals. This undermines the integrity of academic publishing as a whole, contributing to the proliferation of substandard journals. Such practices dilute the quality of the scholarly record, making it harder for legitimate research to stand out and gain recognition.
10. Missed Opportunities for Recognition: Publishing in a reputable journal provides validation, recognition, and opportunities for further collaboration and funding. Predatory journals, however, rarely offer these benefits. Research published in such outlets is often ignored or dismissed, leading to missed chances for meaningful professional growth and academic impact.

The consequences of publishing in a predatory journal are far-reaching, affecting researchers’ reputations, careers, and the quality of their contributions to academia. While the allure of fast and easy publication may seem tempting, the long-term risks far outweigh the short-term benefits. To avoid these pitfalls, researchers must be diligent in evaluating potential journals, using resources like the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), and adhering to guidelines from Think. Check. Submit. By prioritizing ethical and high-quality publishing, researchers can protect their work, enhance their careers, and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of knowledge.

How Do Predatory Journals Affect the Credibility of Academic Research?

Predatory journals significantly undermine the credibility of academic research by eroding trust in the publishing process and disseminating substandard or unreliable work. These journals lack rigorous peer-review processes, allowing articles with methodological flaws, unsubstantiated claims, or outright errors to enter the academic record. As a result, the research they publish fails to meet the quality standards expected of credible scholarly work, creating doubt about the reliability of the findings and tarnishing the reputation of the authors involved.

The proliferation of predatory journals also dilutes the academic landscape, making it harder for researchers, policymakers, and the public to identify reputable sources of information. The contamination of citation networks by low-quality articles further exacerbates this issue, as flawed studies can influence legitimate research or mislead future studies. This diminishes the overall integrity of academic publishing, forcing scholars to spend additional time verifying the credibility of journals and articles.

Moreover, predatory journals often publish pseudoscientific or misleading claims, lending them a false sense of legitimacy. This can contribute to the spread of misinformation, particularly in critical areas such as medicine, public health, and environmental science, where evidence-based decisions are vital. When unreliable research is used to guide policies or interventions, the consequences can be damaging to both society and public trust in science.

The impact extends beyond individual publications, as the existence of predatory journals devalues peer review—a cornerstone of academic credibility. By normalizing subpar editorial practices, these journals weaken the perception of peer-reviewed research as a reliable source of knowledge. Public skepticism toward science can grow as a result, particularly when high-profile errors or controversies arise from work published in predatory outlets.

Ultimately, predatory journals erode the foundation of academic integrity by prioritizing profit over the advancement of knowledge. They harm researchers’ reputations, distort the scholarly record, and diminish confidence in the scientific process. Combating their influence requires awareness, education, and collective efforts to uphold rigorous standards in academic publishing, ensuring that research remains a trustworthy and valuable tool for progress.

In What Ways Do Predatory Journals Harm the Overall Research Ecosystem?

Predatory journals harm the overall research ecosystem by undermining its foundational principles of quality, trust, and integrity. These journals bypass rigorous peer-review processes, allowing flawed, unreliable, or even fraudulent research to enter the scholarly record. This erosion of quality diminishes the credibility of academic publishing, leading to skepticism from both the academic community and the public. When low-quality or pseudoscientific studies are published in predatory journals, they risk contaminating legitimate citation networks and influencing subsequent research, spreading misinformation across disciplines.

The financial exploitation of researchers, particularly early-career academics, further damages the ecosystem. Predatory journals charge high publication fees while providing minimal editorial or distribution services, diverting valuable resources away from meaningful research and legitimate publishing outlets. This inefficiency reduces the overall productivity of the academic system. Additionally, the time and effort wasted on predatory publications leave researchers with fewer opportunities to make impactful contributions to their fields.

The influence of predatory journals extends beyond academia, affecting policymaking and public discourse. Policymakers and stakeholders may unknowingly rely on flawed studies published in predatory outlets, leading to poorly informed decisions with potentially harmful consequences, especially in fields like public health, education, and environmental policy. Furthermore, the dissemination of unreliable research fosters misinformation, reducing public trust in science and academia.

At the institutional level, the association of researchers with predatory journals can tarnish the reputation of universities and research organizations. This reflects poorly on their academic standards and can impact funding opportunities, partnerships, and student recruitment. The proliferation of predatory journals also normalizes unethical publishing practices, devaluing peer review and encouraging a culture of expedience and carelessness within the research community.

Why Do Predatory Journals Exist?

Predatory journals exist primarily due to the financial opportunities created by systemic vulnerabilities in the academic publishing ecosystem. These journals are profit-driven, exploiting the “publish or perish” culture that places immense pressure on researchers to publish frequently for career advancement, tenure, or funding. By offering quick and easy publication pathways with minimal scrutiny, predatory journals attract authors seeking fast results or those who are unfamiliar with ethical publishing standards. The growing adoption of the open-access model, where authors pay Article Processing Charges (APCs) to make their work freely available, has further facilitated the rise of predatory journals, which misuse this model to generate revenue while bypassing the quality controls expected of reputable outlets.

The lack of awareness among researchers, especially early-career academics or those from developing regions, also contributes to the prevalence of predatory journals. Many researchers fail to recognize the warning signs or are misled by the deceptive practices of these journals, such as fabricated impact factors, fake editorial boards, or exaggerated indexing claims. Additionally, the digital revolution has significantly lowered the barriers to starting and maintaining an online journal, enabling predatory publishers to operate with minimal costs and oversight. Compounding the problem is the lack of global regulatory mechanisms to identify and curb predatory practices, allowing these journals to proliferate unchecked.

Institutions and academic bodies sometimes fail to provide adequate guidance or support to researchers in navigating the publishing landscape, leaving them more vulnerable to exploitation. Furthermore, predatory journals serve as an outlet for poorly substantiated research or pseudoscience, giving it an undeserved appearance of legitimacy. By combining aggressive solicitation tactics, low operational costs, and demand for publication opportunities, predatory journals thrive in an environment that lacks uniform accountability. Addressing their existence requires raising awareness, promoting ethical publishing practices, and implementing stricter oversight within the academic community.

Who Is Most Vulnerable to Being Targeted by Predatory Journals?

Researchers most vulnerable to being targeted by predatory journals are those who face significant pressures or challenges within the academic publishing system. Early-career researchers, such as graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, are particularly susceptible due to their limited experience and the intense need to build their publication records for career advancement. Similarly, academics working in environments where the “publish or perish” culture is prevalent may seek quick publication routes, making them prime targets for predatory journals promising rapid acceptance and publication.

Researchers from developing countries are also disproportionately targeted, as they often face limited access to high-quality journals, institutional resources, or training on ethical publishing practices. Non-native English speakers, who may struggle with language barriers or face higher rejection rates from established journals, are another vulnerable group. Predatory journals exploit their challenges by offering less rigorous editorial standards and guaranteed acceptance.

Those unfamiliar with the publishing landscape, including researchers transitioning to new disciplines or those from underfunded institutions with little institutional support, are at heightened risk. Additionally, authors who have faced repeated rejections or who aim to publish controversial, unverified, or low-quality work may be drawn to predatory journals as an easier option. These journals capitalize on vulnerabilities across career stages, geographic regions, and institutional contexts, emphasizing the need for awareness and education to protect researchers from exploitation.

What Tactics Do Predatory Journals Use to Attract Researchers?

Predatory journals employ a variety of deceptive tactics to lure researchers into submitting their work. These tactics exploit the pressures and vulnerabilities within the academic publishing landscape, including the “publish or perish” culture, researchers’ lack of familiarity with journal vetting, and the demand for fast publication. Below are some of the most common tactics used by predatory journals:

1. Aggressive Email Solicitation: Predatory journals frequently send unsolicited and aggressive emails to researchers, inviting them to submit manuscripts, join editorial boards, or attend dubious conferences. These emails often use flattering language, such as praising the researcher’s expertise or suggesting their work is groundbreaking, even if the sender has no knowledge of the researcher’s actual contributions.
2. Promises of Quick Publication: One of the most appealing offers from predatory journals is the promise of an expedited review and publication process. They often claim to provide decisions within a few days or weeks, bypassing the lengthy and rigorous peer-review process typical of legitimate journals. For researchers under time pressure, this can be an enticing proposition.
3. Low Submission Standards: Predatory journals often advertise minimal submission requirements, accepting articles without regard for quality, originality, or relevance. This lack of rigor attracts researchers who may have faced rejection from legitimate journals or who are unfamiliar with proper academic publishing standards.
4. Misrepresentation of Impact Metrics: To appear credible, predatory journals frequently fabricate or exaggerate their impact factors and other metrics. They may advertise affiliations with reputable indexing services like Scopus or PubMed, even if they are not actually indexed. Additionally, some create their own fake metrics or use unreliable indexing platforms to appear legitimate.
5. Use of Broad or Misleading Titles: Predatory journals often have generic or overly broad titles, such as “International Journal of Scientific Research,” to appeal to researchers from a wide range of disciplines. These titles create the illusion of inclusivity and relevance, encouraging submissions from researchers in fields that may lack established or accessible journals.
6. Fake or Misleading Editorial Boards: To appear legitimate, predatory journals often list well-known academics on their editorial boards without their consent or use fictitious names. They may also fail to provide clear information about the editorial process or involve unqualified individuals in decision-making roles.
7. Hidden or Unclear Fees: Predatory journals often conceal their publication fees (Article Processing Charges) until after a manuscript has been accepted. This tactic pressures authors into paying hefty fees to ensure their work gets published, as withdrawing it at that stage could be time-consuming or damaging to their plans.
8. Claims of Global Reach and High Visibility: These journals often promise global reach, high visibility, and indexing in reputable databases. They claim that publishing with them will increase an article’s impact and citations, even though their work is rarely indexed in respected platforms or read by the academic community.
9. Mimicking Reputable Journals: Predatory journals sometimes adopt names or website designs that closely resemble those of established credible journals. This tactic confuses researchers, who may mistakenly submit their work to a fraudulent journal, believing it to be legitimate.
10. Targeting Vulnerable Researchers: Predatory journals specifically target early-career researchers, non-native English speakers, or academics from developing countries. These groups are more likely to respond to the journals’ deceptive tactics due to a lack of awareness, limited publishing options, or the appeal of quick and affordable publication.

Predatory journals rely on manipulative and unethical tactics to attract researchers, exploiting their need to publish and their unfamiliarity with predatory practices. Awareness of these tactics is essential for researchers to avoid falling victim to such schemes. By carefully evaluating journals, using trusted resources like Think. Check. Submit., and seeking guidance from experienced mentors or colleagues, researchers can protect their work and contribute to maintaining the integrity of the academic publishing ecosystem.

Reference Articles:

1. Balehegn, M. (2017). Increased Publication in Predatory Journals by Developing Countries’ Institutions: What It Entails? And What Can Be Done? The International Information & Library Review, 49(2), 97–100. https://doi.org/10.1080/10572317.2016.1278188
2. Bartholomew, R. E. (2014). Science for sale: The rise of predatory journals. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 107(10), 384–385. https://doi.org/10.1177/0141076814548526
3. Beall, J. (2016). Best practices for scholarly authors in the age of predatory journals. The Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England, 98(2), 77–79. https://doi.org/10.1308/rcsann.2016.0056
4. Beall, J. (2017). What I learned from predatory publishers. Biochemia Medica, 27(2), 273–278. https://doi.org/10.11613/BM.2017.029
5. Callaghan, C. W., & Nicholson, D. R. (2020). Predatory publishing and predatory journals: A critical review and proposed research agenda for higher education. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 44(10), 1433–1449. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2019.1695762
6. Cobey, K. D., Lalu, M. M., Skidmore, B., Ahmadzai, N., Grudniewicz, A., & Moher, D. (2018). What is a predatory journal? A scoping review. F1000Research, 7, 1001. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.15256.2
7. Cook, F., Govender, R., & Brennan, P. A. (2023). Greetings from your predatory journal! What they are, why they are a problem, how to spot and avoid them. British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 61(3), 245–247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjoms.2023.02.005
8. Cress, P. E., & Sarwer, D. B. (2019). Predatory Journals: An Ethical Crisis in Publishing. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum, 1(1), ojz001. https://doi.org/10.1093/asjof/ojz001
9. Demir, S. B. (2018). Predatory journals: Who publishes in them and why? Journal of Informetrics, 12(4), 1296–1311. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2018.10.008
10. Elmore, S. A., & Weston, E. H. (2020). Predatory Journals: What They Are and How to Avoid Them. Toxicologic Pathology, 48(4), 607–610. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192623320920209
11. Kurt, S. (2018). Why do authors publish in predatory journals? Learned Publishing, 31(2), 141–147. https://doi.org/10.1002/leap.1150
12. McLeod, A., Savage, A., & Simkin, M. G. (2018). The Ethics of Predatory Journals. Journal of Business Ethics, 153(1), 121–131. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-016-3419-9
13. Memon, A. R. (2018). Predatory Journals Spamming for Publications: What Should Researchers Do? Science and Engineering Ethics, 24(5), 1617–1639. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11948-017-9955-6
14. Nahai, F. (2015). The Rise of Predatory Journals: What Difference Does It Make? Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 35(8), 1042–1043. https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjv085
15. Panda, S. (2020). Predatory journals. Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 86, 109. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijdvl.IJDVL_22_20
16. Pawar, V. J., & Jawade, J. (2020). An Insight into Predatory Journals. Indian Journal of Public Health, 64(1), 86. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijph.IJPH_249_19
17. Richtig, G., Berger, M., Lange-Asschenfeldt, B., Aberer, W., & Richtig, E. (2018). Problems and challenges of predatory journals. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 32(9), 1441–1449. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.15039
18. Shyam, A. (2015). Predatory Journals: What are they? Journal of Orthopaedic Case Reports, 5(4), 1–2. https://doi.org/10.13107/jocr.2250-0685.330
19. Xia, J., Harmon, J. L., Connolly, K. G., Donnelly, R. M., Anderson, M. R., & Howard, H. A. (2015). Who publishes in “predatory” journals? Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 66(7), 1406–1417. https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.23265