Awareness of Jordanian Researchers About Predatory Journals: A Need for Training

• Published in: Science and engineering ethics Vol. 30; no. 6; p. 58
• Main Authors: Khabour, Omar F., Alzoubi, Karem H., Aldarabseh, Wesal M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 28.11.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Awareness; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Editorial Policies; Education; Engineering; Ethical standards; Ethics; Ethics, Research - education; Female; Fraud; Humans; Jordan; Male; Medicine/Public Health; Modules; Open Access Publishing - ethics; Original Research/Scholarship; Periodicals as Topic - standards; Philosophy; Philosophy of Science; Publishing - ethics; Publishing - standards; Regression analysis; Research Personnel; Surveys and Questionnaires; Training; Jordan; Ethics; Predatory journals; Jordan; Open access; MENA
• ISSN: 1471-5546; 1353-3452; 1471-5546
• DOI: 10.1007/s11948-024-00519-8

The use of the open publishing is expected to be the dominant model in the future. However, along with the use of this model, predatory journals are increasingly appearing. In the current study, the awareness of researchers in Jordan about predatory journals and the strategies utilized to avoid them was investigated. The study included 558 researchers from Jordan. A total of 34.0% of the participants reported a high ability to identify predatory journals, while 27.0% reported a low ability to identify predatory journals. Most participants (64.0%) apply “Think. Check. Submit.” strategy to avoid predatory journals. However, 11.9% of the sample reported being a victim of a predatory journal. Multinomial regression analysis showed gender, number of publications, using Beall’s list of predatory journals, and applying “Think. Check. Submit.” strategy were predictors of the high ability to identify predatory journals. Participants reported using databases such as Scopus, Clarivate, membership in the publishing ethics committee, and DOAJ to validate the journal before publication. Finally, most participants (88.4%) agreed to attend a training module on how to identify predatory journals. In conclusion, Jordanian researchers use valid strategies to avoid predatory journals. Implementing a training module may enhance researchers’ ability to identify predatory journals.