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How to identify predatory journal publisher

Ryan Miller from ​IFPRI Library summarized techniques on how to identify a predatory publisher. Here are the findings that can help you identify a predatory publisher.

Predatory Publishing Overview

Sometimes called low-quality publishers, these companies use a variety of means to persuade or extort authors to publish with their titles

Indicators of a Predatory Publisher and ways to Check

  • Lures you in with a very good sounding offer
    • Compare to offers from established publishers
    • Look for grammar errors or other problems with language
  • Journal title sounds very respectable
    • Check known titles from Web of Science and check ISSN
  • Uses address in prominent city
    • Look at Google maps to see what the building looks like for the address.
    • If Google street view shows a construction site or a residential building, it’s suspicious
  • Editorial board claims prominent university affiliation
    • Check if those same universities have them listed as staff
    • Check the ORCiD of the board member if available

Resources Outside CGIAR

  • Center for Open Science definition: “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.”

Related Information
Citation rates for predatory published articles is very low, according to Nature (Nature News January 13, 2020 https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00031-6). The study examined hundreds of articles, only to find a citation rate of zero in 60% of them. This also suggests that there is very little impact of these low-quality journal on science and very little reason for CGIAR authors to publish in them.

Resources Inside CGIAR
LibGuides available

Other 

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