Skip to Main Content

Write and Cite

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, 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 will take the name of a well-known journal and add an extra word so it looks legitimate, and/or the acronym stays relatively similar.

    • E.g., The "British Journal of Ophthalmology" is a legitimate publication. However, a predatory journal entitled the "British Journal of Ophthalmology and Vision" also exists. 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 spelling accuracy 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 subjects 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 legitimate 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 ORCID 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!

 

CA Campus Address: Library Bastyr University 4106 Sorrento Valley Blvd. San Diego, CA 92121 Phone:(858) 246-9714 | Email: buclibrary@bastyr.edu | Text:(425) 947-2486

WA Campus Address: Library Bastyr University 14500 Juanita Dr NE Kenmore, WA 98028 |  Phone:(425) 602-3020 | Email:library@bastyr.edu | Text:(425) 947-2486 | Chat: Chat with a Librarian

 Bastyr Library content may be used, remixed, tweaked, and built upon non-commercially, as long as BU is credited, and new creations are licensed under the identical terms.