Getting Started with Research: Predatory Journals and Conferences
What is a predatory journal?
With the rise of Article Processing Charges (APCs) many less that reputable journals have sprung up offering to publish your research for their own financial gain. You might receive an email from a publisher or come across one when looking for a journal to publish in. These journals have little to no standards, often not proofreading or checking the quality of work before publication
Identifying predatory journals
When you find a journal evaluate its quality by using the CRAAP test or SIFTing. Some other means of identifying journals are:
- If it is an open access journal is it available through the DOAJ? Journals included on the DOAJ are of a good standard and would not be predatory.
- Can you find previous articles published by this journal? Are they of a good standard? Is there formatting or spelling errors?
- Do they describe a clear peer review process?
- Can you find the editorial board? Are they known experts in this field? Are you able to find more information about them elsewhere?
- Does the journal say it's indexed? Are you able to find the journal through those databases?
What is a predatory conference?
Much like predatory journals, predatory conferences are an exploitative conference that exist purely for financial gain. You may receive an unsolicited email or come across one when looking for conference to present.
Identifying predatory conferences
When you come across a conference you are unfamiliar with. You should consider the following:
- Ask your colleagues if they have heard of the conference.
- Is it a once off conference? Predatory conferences are often a once off event.
- If the conference is an annual event can you find previous years’ programmes and event descriptions.
- Who are the organisers? Can you find out more information about the people behind the conference? Does their LinkedIn or other profiles mention involvement in this conference.
- If the conference pitches an opportunity to publish your work after, does the journal exist? Is it indexed on any databases?
