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Criteria below are adapted from CARL's How to Assess a Journal resource.
Review articles
Read articles from the journal to get a sense of quality
Investigate the journal's reputation
Consult with colleagues; have they published in or heard of the journal?
Search online for any comments/posts from academics about their experiences with a journal
Tools:
Retraction Watch: Database of journal retractions maintained by the nonprofit Center for Scientific Integrity
Be critical about the journal's marketing and review process
Does the journal send unsolicited emails?
Does the journal promise a quick peer review process?
Review the journal's website
Is there clear and detailed information available about:
the peer review process
APCs (article processing charges)
how to contact the publisher
the editorial board, including affiliations
author rights, including copyright
Does the website state where the journal is indexed, and are you familiar with the indexes?
What is the scope of the journal? Is it overly broad?
Is the website design professional looking, with no spelling or grammar errors?
Does the journal reference well-known metrics such as impact factor or metrics you have never heard of?
Is the journal a member of any reputable organizations, such as the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)?
Some predatory publishers include false information on websites in order to appear legitimate, such as using academics' names without their knowledge.
Investigate some members of the editorial board. Do they reference their connection to the journal?
Verify claims about impact factors and other metrics, indexes, and memberships
Tools:
Clarivate Analytics' Journal Citation Reports (JCR) is the only source for impact factors. Any journal with an impact factor will appear on the JCR master list (no login required)
Identifying the most exploitative bad-faith journals is important, but does not fully address the complexity of the problem or practices that fall into grey areas. For example, a 'legitimate' journal:
may not meet certain criteria as a result of being newer, small and lacking resources, or other factors rather than predatory intentions