identifying scam journals and conferences richard watson todd sola
TRANSCRIPT
Identifying scam journals and conferences
Richard Watson ToddSoLA
Some cases
• A Thai ajarn going to present in Italy• An article published in an international
journal
Some cases
• A Thai ajarn going to present in Italy• An article published in an international
journal• US universities lecturer employment
conditions
Types of journal• Genuine academic journal
– In major database e.g. Scopus– No publishing costs– Well-known editor– High impact factor
• Scam journal– Not in major database– Open access– High publishing costs
• BUT some quality journals are pay-to-publish open-access
Identifying scam journals
• The publisher is on Beall’s list (http://scholarlyoa.com/publishers/)
• Publishing fee (normally in Author guidelines or Submission)
• Wide range of articles accepted• Journal description the same as other
journals
The publisher is on Beall’s list
Publishing fee
Wide range of articles accepted
Journal description the same as other journals
Journal description the same as other journals
• If a KMUTT staff member publishes in a scam journal:– Do NOT report the publication to the
university– Do NOT include the publication in any
faculty evaluation– Ask the Department Head to inform the
staff member
Types of conferences
• Genuine quality conferences• Tourism conferences• Fake conferences
Genuine quality conferences
• Organised by major academic organisation or university
• Specific area of interest• Well-published plenary speakers
Tourism conferences
• Very broad areas of interest• Emphasis on social events or tourism• Conference description the same as other
conferences• Publications in scam journals
Very broad areas of interestEmphasis on social events or tourism
Conference description the same as other conferences
Conference description the same as other conferences
Publications in scam journals
Fake conferences• Advertised by spam e-mail• Lots of different fees (e.g. charge for visa)• Non-existent hotel (check from Google
Streetview):
Conference funding
• Funding for conferences is expensive• Benefits from quality conferences justify
the expense• Tourism and fake conferences are a waste
of money
• List of recommended and prohibited conferences