E4728. The Dark Side of Publishing: Predatory Journals – What Are They and Why Should I Care?
Authors
Yet Yen Yan;
Changi General Hospital
Wilfred Peh;
Khoo Teck Puat Hospital
Peter Munk;
Vancouver General Hospital
Background
With increased internet use, many subscription journals began publishing parallel electronic versions. It is often possible to opt for one or the other, with many readers using only electronic, Consumers have become used to e-journals. Open access journals are scholarly journals available online to readers without barriers – financial, technical, or legal / copyright, equalizing access to information. - In contrast, predatory journals are an exploitative open access publishing business with deceptive intentions and publication charges without meeting scholarly standards or providing robust editorial and review services like that of traditional legitimate journals.
Educational Goals / Teaching Points
Explain the difference between an open access journal and predatory journal. Teach how to spot a predatory journal. Provide a list of methods on how to check black-listed/predatory journals, such as Beall's list. Inform on hijacked journal and Bohannon Experiment.
Key Anatomic/Physiologic Issues and Imaging Findings/Techniques
Open access journals are not equivalent to predatory journals. Look for clues of a predatory journal, such as poor English (misspelled words, poor syntax, and grammar), address (if given) usually in US or western Europe, nonprofessional language, hyperbole… “honorable and distinguished sir,” May require copyright transfer, often difficult to find any mention of author charges or costs.
Conclusion
The internet is a powerful tool for dissemination of information. We need to be discerning of the differences between an open access journal and predatory journal; failing to do so will help propagate unregulated poor-quality research.
