A Guide To...Undergraduate Student Publishing

There are many options available to publish your research.  Regardless of whether you chose print, electronic, subscription-based or open access, it is important to always evaluate the journal before submitting an article for publication.

Perhaps you are already familiar with a journal because you use it for your own research or it is well-known in your field.

If it is less well-known to you, use the information below to help determine whether it is a quality journal.  You can also check with fellow researchers, your instructor or faculty advisor, and librarians.

"Predatory publishers" is a term used to describe opportunistic open access publishers that charge publication fees to authors without providing the editorial and publishing services associated with legitimate journals. [1] 

There is no single checklist that determines if a journal or publisher is legitimate or predatory. However, qualities of reputable publishers include the following:

• Journal Scope is well defined and clearly stated on the journal's website
• Editors and Editorial Board consists of recognized experts in the field
• Journal is affiliated or was established by scholarly or academic institution or organization
• Peer Review process is rigorous and explained clearly on website
• Articles fall within the stated scope of the publication
• Publication fee structure is clearly explained and easy to find on website
• ISBN exists
• Articles have Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs)
• Journal has an Impact Factor
• Usage rights are clearly stated (e.g. Creative Commons License CC By license)
• Journal is registered on UlrichsWeb Global Serials Directory,. If Open Access, Journal is listed in the Directory of Open Access Journals or Publisher is a member of Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association (OASPA)
• Journal is indexed in subject databases or indexes
• Contact information is clearly provided and available
• Publishing schedule and publication frequency is clearly stated
• Solicitation of manuscripts and other direct marketing are appropriate, well-targeted, and unobtrusive

The contents of this box are borrowed from Scholarly Publishing: Predatory Publishing by Ruth Bueter at  Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library, George Washington University. Used with permission.

Consider the following when deciding whether to publish, especially with Open Access journals:

• E-mailed Invitations to Submit an Article
• Journal's Name Suspiciously Similar to Another Prominent Journal in the Field
• Misleading Geographic Information in the Title
• Unprofessional Website Appearance
• Insufficient Contact Information 
• Lack of Editors or Editorial Board
• Editors with No or Fake Academic Credentials
• Unclear Author Fee Structures
• Bogus Impact Factors:
• Invented Metrics:
• False Index Claims:
• Peer Review Process:
• Lack of ISSN
• ​"Instructions for Authors" Information is Unavailable
• Evaluate Published Articles
• Publisher has a Negative Reputation
• Author Fees: Are they comparable to reputable journals?
• Use Common Sense

The contents of this box are borrowed from Scholarly Publishing: Predatory Publishing by Ruth Bueter at  Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library, George Washington University. Used with permission.

How can you choose trusted journals for your research?  When selecting a journal, 

Think: Can you trust this journal with your research? Does it publish research you would read yourself?

Check: Who publishes the journal?  Can you contact them easily ? Do you recognize the names or reputations of editorial board members? Is there peer review? Are publication fees clearly identified? Are articles listed in indexes or services for your subject area?

Submit: If you can answer yes to most of these questions, submit.

Learn more at thinkchecksubmit.org