Academic Publishing: Predatory Journals

Definition

Predatory publishing is the systematic, for-profit publication of supposedly scholarly content in a deceptive or fraudulent way without any regard for quality assurance. Predatory journals typically do not provide any editorial or peer review, even though they tell authors that they do.

As a binary label, the term “predatory publishing” is very provocative, but not so helpful in distinguishing among a spectrum of journal practices that range from poor to outright deceptive. It's also worth noting that open access publication models and predatory publishing are not the same thing. More information about selecting a reputable journal can be found in the Selecting Journals tab.

Why Should I Care?

• Reputational damage
• Low citation rates and readership for your work
• Waste of money, time, and energy
• Feelings of frustration and shame
• Damage to the scholarly record
• Risk that poor research will inform public policy or be picked up by the media

Common Practices of Predatory Publishers

• Fake editorial boards. Predatory journals include the names of leading scholars in a field among their editorial boards without their knowledge or consent.
• Fake impact factors. Many predatory publishers use fake or invented metrics to fool you into believing they are a credible journal.
• Promises of rapid publication. Peer review takes time. Deceptive journals take advantage of the pressure scholars face to publish by promising rapid publication of their work.
• Hijacking reputable journals. Predatory publishers may take over the website of a defunct journal, set up an identical website at a similar URL, or use a similar journal title to trick you into submitting work.
• SPAM invitations to submit articles. Predatory publishers are known for aggressive email solicitations of authors and editors. Note how in the example below, the Predatory Managing Editor creates a sense of urgency by insisting they need your article immediately.

Avoiding Predatory Publishers

Use Think. Check. Submit. to carry out your own evaluation

It is sometimes tempting to rely on “blacklists” of predatory journals, or “safe lists” of reputable journals. However, there are differing definitions of predatory publishing and thresholds for certain types of behavior. The reasons for inclusion or exclusion are not always clear, and lists ultimately won’t help you avoid low quality journals. Learning to conduct your own evaluation of a journal is a valuable skill that will serve you throughout your career.

If you are unsure if a journal is predatory or not, email library.help@usu.edu and we will help you with your evaluation.

Don’t click on links in email invitations and solicitations

• Always look up the journal via a search engine instead of clicking on email links.
• Check if a journal has been hijacked via the Hijacked Journal Checker.
• Submit your manuscript through the publisher’s web portal, not as an email attachment.

Predatory vs. Low Quality Publishers

Predatory publishing is intentionally fraudulent, but there are plenty of journals out there that don’t meet the definition of predatory but also just aren’t very good journals—maybe they’re not indexed, they don’t have a well-defined scope so they publish too broadly, or they don’t adhere to rigorous peer review standards. We would call these low-quality journals. What you want to aim for when you’re publishing your work is a reputable journal.

For more information on finding a reputable journal, check out the Selecting Journals tab.

Finding out that you’ve published with a predatory publisher can be disheartening, but there are steps you can take to address the situation and protect your work. If you suspect you may be the victim of a fraudulent publisher, email library.help@usu.edu for help verifying the status of the journal. If you can locate it, include a copy of the publishing agreement you signed with the journal. The library can then help you with the following steps:

1. Withdraw Your Article: If feasible, formally request to withdraw your article from the predatory journal. Be prepared to explain your reasons and follow up to ensure your request is acknowledged.

2. Consider Re-publishing: You can seek to submit your work to a reputable journal. Be sure to follow the guidelines for submitting previously published work, as many journals have specific policies.

3. Report the Publisher: Filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and reporting the publisher to scholarly organizations and indexing websites can help prevent others from falling victim to similar situations.

4. Reflect and Learn: Use this experience as an opportunity to refine your journal selection process in the future. Familiarize yourself with reputable journals and publishing practices to avoid similar issues down the line.

You might also consider sharing your experience with colleagues and peers to raise awareness and prevent others from being misled. By taking these steps, you can mitigate the impact of publishing with a predatory publisher and continue to advance your academic career responsibly.