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Q: How to identify predatory journals?
I’m going to submit my paper to the journal Clinics in Mother and Child Health. I have chosen this journal because:
1. I am an occasional reader of this journal,
2. Article Processing Charge is not so high among other open access journals,
3. It has an impact factor.
However, this journal cannot be searched in Pub Med and Web of Science, and only searched in Google scholar. As my affiliated institution is asking us to beware of predatory journals, I want to confirm that this journal is not one of them. How should I identify whether this is a predatory journal or not?
It is great that you are taking care to avoid predatory journals before submitting your paper. To identify a predatory journal, you need to go through the journal's website carefully. The website should look professional, provide the full contact information, including address, of the publisher, as well as a list of the editorial board members along with their affiliations. Also, check if the website includes a clear description of the peer review process and information about the fees. Additionally, look up some of the previous issues of the journal to see if the quality of articles published is good. Finally, ask your supervisor or senior colleagues if they are familiar with the journal and if it is a reputed journal in the field.
Here is a checklist that will help you identify predatory journals. Submit only when you are sure that the journal is a reputable one.
Related reading:
- Think Check Submit - The checklist that helps you choose a reliable journal
- Beware of bogus publishers!
This content belongs to the Journal Selection Stage