Is predatory publishing a real threat? Evidence from a large database study

Marcelo S. Perlin (), Takeyoshi Imasato () and Denis Borenstein ()
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Marcelo S. Perlin: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Escola de Administração
Takeyoshi Imasato: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Escola de Administração
Denis Borenstein: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Escola de Administração

Scientometrics, 2018, vol. 116, issue 1, No 11, 255-273

Abstract: Abstract Using a database of potential, possible, or probable predatory scholarly open-access journals, the objective of this research is to study the penetration of predatory publications in the Brazilian academic system and the profile of authors in a cross-section empirical study. Based on a massive amount of publications from Brazilian researchers of all disciplines during the 2000–2015 period, we were able to analyze the extent of predatory publications using an econometric modeling. Descriptive statistics indicate that predatory publications represent a small overall proportion, but grew exponentially in the last 5 years. Departing from prior studies, our analysis shows that experienced researchers with a high number of non-indexed publications and PhD obtained locally are more likely to publish in predatory journals. Further analysis shows that once a journal regarded as predatory is listed in the local ranking system, the Qualis, it starts to receive more publications than non-predatory ones.

Keywords: Predatory journals; Scholarly publishing; Open access; Lattes platform; 00-01; 99-00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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DOI: 10.1007/s11192-018-2750-6

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