1. Be alert for predatory publishers
Sam Oakley

2. Key Message!
If you get an asking you to submit a paper for a journal or conference, proceed with extreme caution and make careful checks
s may reference previous work or a conference presentation
The journal may look highly relevant or professional

3. What’s the problem?
Publishers are setting up journals to try to make money
Fraudulent or low quality journals are targeting researchers
They are then charged to publish (even to withdraw a paper)

4. Why is this happening?
The payment of article processing charges to publish open access is an opportunity to make money
Pressure on researchers to publish makes them potentially vulnerable (or is the whole system at fault?)

5. Warning Signs…
Journal websites may lie about their impact factor (or use misleading metrics)
Journals may mimic existing titles
Health especially vulnerable, often targeting specific research areas
Many journals are poor quality & publish dubious research

6. Check any offers carefully
Think, Check, Submit has general advice:
Do you know the journal & read its research?
Can your colleagues recommend it?
Who’s the publisher & the board?
What’s their peer review process?

7. Specific checks Check the journal’s claimed impact factor
Check SUNCAT: is it subscribed to by UK universities?
Is the journal indexed by major databases?
Scopus?
Web of Science?
PubMed?

8. “One dodgy publication in your publication list brings all the others into question. If you are attaching that publication list to a research grant application, it works against the whole submission.”
“Are my publications any good?” Blog post by Jonathan O’Donnell, 22 Mar 16 on “The Research Whisperer”

9. We would be glad to double-check any journal for you: