Predatory Publishing

Checklist and criteria for reliability

The market for scientific journals is constantly changing, and the increasing number of journals in particular makes it difficult to keep track of publication options.

Among the publishers of scientific journals, there are some that pursue a business model that is exclusively profit-orientated and ignores the rules of good scientific practice. Such journals, commonly referred to as "predatory journals", merely sham scientific respectability, but in fact lack the usual measures to ensure quality of publications - in particular serious peer review procedures. The publication of research results in such "predatory journals" is harmful in several aspects: it prevents the published research results from being recognised or taken seriously by the respective research community; it damages the reputation of the authors involved; and it undermines the credibility of science in general.

The term "predatory publishing" refers not only to a single journal, but to an entire publishing house, which in turn charges money for its services but does not provide them or provides them in poor quality. Predatory publishing often involves soliciting scientists in the form of mass mailings. Such requests should be investigated carefully if the journal or publisher is not known to be trustworthy.

If required, we also offer lectures with practical examples on the subject of predictive publishing. We also undertake the review of individual journals. Please contact us:

Contact: Lisa Hofer, +43 512 507 25073 I Erika Pörnbacher, +43 512 507 25070 I ulb-emedien@uibk.ac.at