Predatory Publishers & Conferences

What is predatory publishing?

You have been asked to publish in a certain journal or become a member of the editorial board? But you are not sure if this publisher is reputable or may be a so-called predatory publisher?

We have put together some tips for you on how to recognise dubious publishers.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions!

Red Flags
... the journal's scope is to broad and vague or comprises many different, incoherent areas of expertise.
... the journal's archive shows irregular publication cycles, is not accessible or not available at all.
... the publisher offers a great range of journals with very little content.
... the publication process (incl. peer review) is set very short, is not or insufficiently described.
... the website looks unprofessional, confusing, offers little information or does not exist at all.
... the website indicates wrong indices or impact factors (e.g. Index Copernicus, Universal Impact Factor, Global Impact Factor).
... the article processing charges cannot be found on the website.
... the publisher does not provide verifiable or outright contact information.

Checklists

In addition, you should check details such as listing in renowned databases (e.g. EBSCO, ProQuest, Web of Science ...) or membership in industry associations:

Checklists

A general rule: If you have a bad feeling about a publisher or a magazine, proceed with caution.

Consult with your colleagues or contact us!

 

Video about the initiative Think. Check. Submit. by ALPSP, DOAJ, INASP, ISSN, LIBER, OASPA, STM, UKSG, and individual publishers.
(Source: https://vimeo.com/151882443)
Think. Check. Submit.