A predatory publisher is an exploitative publishing company that exploits the need to publish but offers little in return for using their services.
The academic need to publish combined with the growth of Open Access journals has created an environment that is ripe for exploitation of authors. Some publishers are intentionally predatory, while others make mistakes for a variety of reasons, such as inexperience or mismanagement. While experiences with predatory publishers can differ, the goals of these groups are often the same: to make money from authors without adhering to established standards and best practices.
Think. Check. Submit. is an organization that helps researchers identify trusted journals for their research. The video above takes you through their process.
For more indicators of quality in journals or conferences, visit the Identifying Predatory Journals and Identifying Predatory Conferences pages.
There are a number of factors to be considered when evaluating a journal to determine if it is a legitimate or a predatory publisher. Presence or absence of one indicator does not determine a journal's legitimacy. The cumulative effect of indicators is what matters.
There are a number of factors to be considered when evaluating a conference to determine if it is legitimate or predatory. Presence or absence of one indicator does not determine a conference's legitimacy. The cumulative effect of indicators is what matters.
