Avoid predatory journals and conferences

So-called predatory, dubious, or illegitimate scientific journals and conferences are publications and events that do not adhere to academic and ethical research standards, often with the aim of generating quick profits without providing real value to the scientific community. Here are some details about these predatory journals and conferences:

Predatory magazines:

  • Excessive publication fees : Predatory journals often charge high publication fees, sometimes without valid justification. These fees are paid by the authors.

  • Lack of or no peer review process : Predatory journals tend to neglect the peer review process or conduct it superficially, allowing the publication of poor-quality articles.

  • Lack of editorial transparency : They do not provide sufficient information about their editorial board, publication policies, review procedures, etc.

  • Aggressive Solicitations : Editors of predatory journals often send unsolicited emails to researchers, encouraging them to submit their articles.

  • Lack of indexing in respected databases : Predatory journals are generally not indexed in reputable academic databases, meaning their articles have little visibility.

Predatory conferences:

  • Unsolicited Invitations : Researchers often receive unsolicited invitations to participate in predatory conferences, sometimes without regard for their research field.

  • Lack of rigorous selection committee : Predatory conferences tend not to review submissions adequately, meaning that low-quality or irrelevant work may be accepted.

  • High attendance fees : Attendees at these conferences are often required to pay high registration fees, which may not be justified by the quality of the event.

  • Lack of Visibility or Impact : Predatory conferences have little value in terms of networking, academic visibility, and publication opportunities.

Consequences :

  • Researchers who publish in predatory journals or participate in predatory conferences risk having their work discredited because these publications and presentations may be viewed as unreliable.

  • Academic institutions and funding bodies may also lose confidence in the quality of a researcher’s work if they are associated with predatory publications or events.

Prevention:

To avoid falling into the trap of these journals and conferences, researchers should do their due diligence, use lists of predatory journals and conferences, and rely on reliable resources such as: Scopus, Web Of Science…