Need help determining the validity of a journal? The Health Sciences Librarians can help. Use the button below to submit a journal title to be checked by one of our librarians.
If you are not sure where to publish or are looking for some options, explore current Read & Publish opportunities:
If you have questions about these current agreements, or other publishing opportunities - please reach out to the UC Press.
Predatory Journals and Publishers have been increasing at an alarming rate. But while they have become more known about, they are still taking advantage of researchers that are looking to publish.
Before you choose a journal to publish be sure you can recognize the warning signs of Predatory Journals.
| Characteristics | What to watch for |
|---|---|
| Solicits for publications |
Random emails from odd email addresses requesting publication (sometimes at a very quick turnaround). Many times these emails will end up in your spam folder. For example, the following is from an actual email: Hope you are doing well and very good in health. Well, we are in need of only one article to release an upcoming issue Volume 5 Issue 4 on 20th July 2022. Is it possible for you to support us with your 2-page opinion or mini review for this issue? I believe in you that; your one article brings out the best achievement to our Journal. |
| Peer Review Policy | Poorly defined peer review policy; often low quality review and promises to be a speedy process. |
| Spelling & Grammar Mistakes | Email correspondence, website, and guidelines contain spelling and grammar errors. Websites are often poorly designed and difficult to navigate. |
| Publisher details | Details for publisher location are missing and often do not match other location details. |
| Broad, odd, or inconsistent scope | Broad scope of content which may not match title. |
| Similar Sounding Titles | Journal title and website are very similar to an existing journal. |
| Impact Factors | Journal cites impact factors such as Global Impact Factor (GIF) and Index Copernicus Value. |
Table adapted from: Berger, M. (2017). Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Predatory Publishing but Were Afraid to Ask. Publications and Research. https://academicworks.cuny.edu/ny_pubs/141
Check Beall's List (archived) of potential predatory journals, or see if the journal or publisher is listed in the DOAJ or DOAB.
Adapted from: Miller, E., & DeBerg, J. (2017). The Perils of Predatory Publishing: Views and Advice from an Editor and a Health Sciences Librarian. Pain management nursing : official journal of the American Society of Pain Management Nurses, 18(6), 351–352. https://doi-org.uc.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.pmn.2017.10.003
