Use this checklist to evaluate journals and publishers you find online. If your answer to most of the questions is "no," you may have found a low quality or predatory journal/publisher. You should seriously consider whether you should use articles from the journal/publisher in your research.
- Have you or your professor heard of the journal before?
- Can you locate current or recent articles from the journal?
- Can you identify the journal’s publishing company/organization?
- Does the publisher have a website with contact information (phone, email, and mail)?
- Does the journal explain what peer review process it follows?
- Do articles from the journal appear in library databases like Web of Science?
- Have articles from the journal been cited frequently?
- What is the journal’s impact factor?
- Does the journal’s website list and explain any author fees that it charges?
- Does the journal list an editorial board?
- Do the editors have appropriate qualifications for their role (e.g. advanced degree)?
- Do the editors mention their role on their personal or university websites?
- Is the publisher a member of a recognized publishing industry group? Check on the group’s website to be certain--links below.
Checklist based on the Think Check Submit Checklist - https://thinkchecksubmit.org/