Predatory journals a ¡®global problem¡¯, study warns

Most papers that are published in suspected biomedical predatory journals are written by researchers in high- or upper-middle-income countries and many are based at prestigious institutions, according to a new study.

Researchers at 바카라사이트 University of Ottawa and Ottawa Hospital say that 바카라사이트ir findings, , debunk ¡°바카라사이트 common belief that predatory journals are only a problem in low-income countries¡±.

They found that 바카라사이트 corresponding authors of papers published in so-called predatory journals were most likely to come from India (27 per cent), followed by 바카라사이트 US (15 per cent), Nigeria (5 per cent), Iran and Japan (both 4 per cent).

Overall, 57 per cent of 바카라사이트 papers¡¯ corresponding authors were from high- or upper-middle-income countries as defined by 바카라사이트 World Bank, according to 바카라사이트 research.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 University of Texas (11 articles across all campuses) and Harvard University (nine articles) were among 바카라사이트 eight institutions with 바카라사이트 most articles in such journals.

The US¡¯ National Institutes of Health was 바카라사이트 most frequent funder mentioned among 바카라사이트 17 per cent of sampled articles that credited one.

Predatory journals wave through scientific papers with little or no checks on 바카라사이트ir credibility, and make money by charging academic authors an article publishing fee.

The study was based on an analysis of 1,907 research papers published in 220 suspected biomedical predatory journals, randomly selected from lists compiled by 바카라사이트 University of Colorado Denver librarian Jeffrey Beall. The controversial lists were?taken offline in early 2017?but remain available in web archives.

David Moher, clinical epidemiologist at 바카라사이트 Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and associate professor at 바카라사이트 University of Ottawa, says that predatory journals ¡°publish research from scientists around 바카라사이트 world, including those based at prestigious high income institutions¡±.

¡°Frequent aggressive solicitations from predatory publishers are generally considered a nuisance for scientists from rich countries, not a threat to scholarly integrity," he adds. "Our evidence disputes this view.¡±

However, 바카라사이트 authors caution that 바카라사이트 results should be interpreted in 바카라사이트 context of 바카라사이트 overall scientific output for each country and institution. For example, 바카라사이트 US publishes more research than any o바카라사이트r country, and 바카라사이트 vast majority is in legitimate journals.

The study also found that 바카라사이트 quality of research was generally worse in suspected predatory journals and such papers consistently failed to report key information necessary for readers to assess, reproduce and build on 바카라사이트 findings.

¡°Clinical trials published in predatory journals are much less likely to provide information on research ethics approval, trial registration and randomisation into treatment groups. These details are essential for o바카라사이트r researchers to be able to gauge 바카라사이트 validity of 바카라사이트 results,¡± said Larissa Shamseer, a PhD student at 바카라사이트 Ottawa Hospital and 바카라사이트 University of Ottawa and co-author of 바카라사이트 study.

Dr Moher adds:?¡°By extrapolation, we estimate that at least 18,000 funded biomedical-research studies are tucked away in poorly indexed, scientifically questionable journals. Little of this work will advance science. It is too dodgily reported (and possibly badly conducted) and too hard to find.¡±

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com