Akademiliv

Sahlgrenska akademins nyheter

På Svenska
University of Gothenburg Logotype
  • News
  • Notices
  • Calendar
  • Grants
  • About Akademiliv

How to avoid publication in questionable publications and dubious journals

30 November, 2021

PUBLISHING ETHICS. If you publish in a questionable journal, it may prove more harmful to your reputation than beneficial. But what are the warning signs to look for before choosing a journal? The Research Ethics Committee and the Biomedical Library can provide some tools to help you avoid predatory journals.

These days, scientific publication has become a lucrative industry with high profit margins, and is funded either through subscription or publication charges. It is this latter funding model, called Article Processing Charges (APC), which makes the articles accessible to all, open access. The prospect of earning fast (and big) bucks also attracts less serious players, sometimes referred to as predatory journals.

Definition from Nature

There had been no overall definition of the characteristics of these dubious journals for quite some time, but in 2019 Nature took the initiative for a meeting where a definition was finally agreed upon after 12 hours of discussion.

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.

The entire text is available at Nature. Finding a comprehensive definition may be challenging, and listing all possible warning signals that enable recognition of these journals can be a complex task. However, one easy way is to check whether the journal is indexed in the article databases you use. There are also several free guides and tools to use, such as LiUs Journal Check Up or ThinkCheckSubmit. (A similar service is available for conferences ThinkCheckAttend)

A publishing ethics choice

Researchers or doctoral students form the target group for these actors, and you have probably received a lot of e-mails offering publication from this type of journal. But what should really influence your choice of journal when submitting your article? Your choice should be influenced by such factors as the journal’s readership, reputation (perhaps in the form of impact factor) and whether the article will be placed behind a paywall or is provided with open access.

If you choose a questionable journal, in error or deliberately, your choice of journal and publication may risk becoming a burden rather than a distinction. At certain times we may be less discerning and good publishing ethics are overlooked for an easier way to publish. You may have an article, the result of a long period of research, that has been refused several times, and you would rather see it published in a more obscure journal than disappear completely in the bottom of a desk drawer. It could also be work that you do not value very highly or articles that focus on giving some master students the opportunity to see their thesis in print, rather than basing publication on yourself as a researcher building your h-index with further citations.

In such situations, it may be tempting with offers of rapid publication in a journal you do not really know much about.

Avoid predatory journals completely

For that reason, remember these simple rules of conduct:

  1. CAUTION – avoid all interaction with predatory publishers
  2. Do not submit
  3. Do not peer review
  4. Do not read
  5. Do not reference

Read more about publishing ethics at Sahlgrenska Academy’s website Research Ethics.
If you have any questions about the choice of journals, dubious publishers or APC fees, please contact the Biomedical Library, forskarservice@ub.gu.se or see https://www.ub.gu.se/en/publish/open-access

Seminar in January

FER will be organizing a seminar on this topic on January 25 at 1 pm, hosted by Senior Lecturer Dr. Gustaf Nelhans from the University of Boras, whose main area of research concerns research policy aspects of scientific publication. His publications include a study on the amount of dubious publications at Swedish universities that he carried out together with Theo Bodin, KI. https://doi.org/10.1162/qss_a_00033

Keep an eye out for this in Akademiliv calendar!

  • There are local and national agreements that offer discounts on part of, or the entire, APC fee at several publishers, see UB’s search service.
  • The h-index measures the impact of an author based on the number of publications and the number of citations from them.
  • Impact factor measures the impact of a journal based on the average number of citations that an article in the journal receives.

BY: EVA HESSMAN (on assignment from the Research Ethics Committee)

 

By: Elin Lindström

Add your own events in the Akademiliv Calendar

No newsletter during the sports holiday – Wednesday, February 15

Information from Sahlgrenska Academy Research Support Office

[UPDATED JAN 24]
The Sahlgrenska Academy Research Support Office provides an overview of upcoming and current calls, nominations and events in an information letter. This letter is updated approximately four times per semester.

’20 minutes for researchers’ is back – see full spring program

During 20 minutes over Zoom, the Biomedical Library gives tips on tools and services that can facilitate your research everyday life.

We are building at Medicinareberget

You will now find comprehensive information on construction projects that affect the Sahlgrenska Academy in the Staff Portal.

Lunch menus

Café Anatomen
Menu not available on website.

Café Annedal
Menu not available on website.

Lunchen.nu

Lustgården på Änggårdsbacken
Take away for external guests between 11.00-12.30 weekdays.

Lyktan

Mersmak Mölndal

Mersmak Sahlgrenska

Mersmak Östra

Salt & Syra

More news

Nytt ansökningsförfarande för SSMF Starting och Consolidator Grant

7 February, 2023

ANNOUNCEMENTS. Starting this year, SSMF is introducing a new application procedure for its Starting and Consolidator Grant calls. These will now …  

The master’s program in public health paved the way for collaboration in Sri Lanka and India

7 February, 2023

TRAVELOGUE. In early November last year, Solveig Lövestad and Monica Hunsberger (Master’s program in public health Directors) and Evelina Nyström …  

Use of methotrexate is associated with an increased risk of skin cancer

7 February, 2023

NEW STUDY. The immunosuppressive drug methotrexate (MTX) can be linked to an elevated risk of three types of skin cancer, a new study by …  

Distinct gender norms in descriptions of chronic pain

6 February, 2023

DOCTORAL THESIS. Sensitive women and stoical men are the prevalent images of people in chronic pain. Unwarranted differences in medical treatment …  

New thesis: Higher risk of future accidental bowel leakage after sphincter injury

3 February, 2023

THESIS. A study that was part of a recent doctoral thesis at the Institute of Clinical Sciences reports a significantly higher risk of developing …  

Formal ceremony for Zealous and Devoted Service

3 February, 2023

ACADEMIC CEREMONIES. On Wednesday, January 25, the University invited a 68 staff members to a ceremony to receive their Zealous and Devoted …  

Nominations for Honorary Doctors 2023 is open

2 February, 2023

HONORARY DOCTOR. All staff at Sahlgrenska Academy may nominate honorary doctorates. The appointments are evidence of the faculty’s appreciation, a …  

Depression and low quality of life 30 years after chemical attack

27 January, 2023

NEW STUDY. Mustard gas harms the vision, skin and breathing. Three decades on, however, the predominant effect is mental ill-health. At a time …  

Testing a immunological drug as a new treatment for early type 1 diabetes

26 January, 2023

CLINICAL STUDY. A large clinical study is now beginning on an approved drug for treating psoriasis. The drug will be tested on patients who were …  

Emma Eckernäs: GU now surveying doctoral students’ work environment too

25 January, 2023

COLUMN. For the first time, the work environment survey (ARK) at the University of Gothenburg (GU) now contains a sub-survey aimed specifically …  

More news...

Sahlgrenska Academy

© University of Gothenburg
PO-Box 100, S-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
Phone: 00 46 31 786 0000

About the website

Elin Lindström is editor for Akademiliv.
Please feel free to send your ideas and comments to akademiliv@gu.se

Sign up for the Akademiliv newsletter:

Send you tips to Akademiliv

Do you have a suggestion for news, grants, seminars or an education?
Send an email to Elin Lindström Claessen