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Tips for Vetting Journals

Below are some quick tips for vetting journals! Many journals may look and feel legitimate, but it's always good to double check. Note that for the sake of brevity in these notes we are using the term "predatory journal," however this may not be a term everyone uses or prefers.

Check out this website for more info and a list of potential predatory journals.

Keep an eye out for these red flags:

  • Look at the titles. Many journals will take the name of a well-known legit journal and add an extra word so it looks legit, or so the acronym stays mostly the same.

    • E.g., A legit journal is the British Journal of Opthamology. There is also a predatory journal called British Journal of Opthamology and Vision. Google the journal titles or check our database UlrichsWeb to see if it pops up.

  • Note the scope of the journal. Is it very broad? Is it listing a bunch of disciplines or almost everything in the field (AKA accepts everything)? Red flag. Should be a little more specific on what they take, and note the subject terms/disciplines for accuracies in spelling and punctuation (and for grammatical errors on the journal page in general!).

    • E.g. There may be a field or subject name that is two words, but in the predatory journals those words might be separated by a comma as if they are two different things. They may be obviously unfamiliar with the field. Think of any terms or subject you are familiar with in your field.

  • Journal says its indexed by Google Scholar

    • This is a red flag. Pretty much anything can be put into Google Scholar and (as we know) that doesn't make it scholarly.

    • Additionally, saying "indexed by PubMed"- a journal should technically be indexed by Medline (within PubMed).

  • Fake links. Click on everything!

    • Sometimes text is highlighted as if it's a hyperlink when it's not, or there are broken links.

  • If it's an international journal, but all the stuff is coming from one country

    • Sometimes there is a legit reason for this, but maybe treat it with some suspicion if you see this.

  • Who is on the editorial board?

    • Sometimes predatory journals will put famous authors as being on their board without that person's knowledge, OR they will name an author who is deceased (yikes).

    • Additionally having a place where you can "apply for the editorial board here!" is a red flag.

    • Author's also have Orchid profiles you can check.

  • Look up the location of the office on Google Maps

    • One time a colleague looked up an office of a journal and it was an ice cream store. Check everything.

Stay Safe!

 

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