Predatory journals are a substantial problem in the international scientific world. Many researchers have been deceived into submitting to predatory journals, in which their work can be overlooked. But what are predator journals exactly? Predatory journals are scam publishers that charge an author’s fee, often without performing quality checks for issues such as plagiarism or ethical approval. The major part of these journals take payments without ever publishing the work, while others publish articles without any form of an editorial or peer review process.
The European Pain Federation EFIC acknowledges the importance of the issue and, for this reason, wants to raise awareness by providing resources to tackle the problem. Inspired by this conversation between a French researcher and a predatory journal which has been highlighted in different scientific communities we have put together useful information on predatory journals and how to avoid them. Feel free to share these among your community to help maintain a high level of professionalism in scientific publishing.
General overview on predatory journals:
Predatory journals: no definition, no defence
Firm action needed on predatory journals
Examples of emails sent by predatory journals:
Predatory Journal Examples
A helpful infographic on How to Spot Predatory Journals to share with your colleagues and peers:
