Skip to Main Content



Understanding Predatory Publishers

This guide introduces the concept of predatory publishing and provides advice on how to identify a potential predatory publisher.

Avoiding predators

Think! Are you submitting your research to a trusted journal? Publishing your research results is key to advancing your discipline - and your career - but with so many journals in your field, how can you be sure that you're choosing a reputable trustworthy journal? Think! Check! Submit! Tips to confirm a journal's credentials and decide if it will help you reach the right audience with your research and make an impact on your career.

Fact Checking

The Library Guide on Journal Evaluation Tools, which provides a lot of information on journal metrics, can help you fact check journal information (such as Impact Factors).

About this guide

This guide is just that, a guide. Ultimately it is up to each author to make the final decision on where to publish and to decide what they expect from their publisher.


Creative Commons LicenseMegan N. O'Donnell authored this guide. Last updated on 2023-01-04. First published in 2016, this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The graphic icons from icons8 and can be reused as long as attribution is retained.

Profile Photo
Megan O'Donnell
she / her
Contact:
The Catalyst / 204 Parks Library
515-294-1670