Spurious alternative impact factors: The scale of the problem from an academic perspective

• Published in: BioEssays Vol. 37; no. 5; pp. 474 - 476
• Main Authors: Gutierrez, Fredy R.S., Beall, Jeffrey, Forero, Diego A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.05.2015; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Bibliometrics; Biomedical Research - standards; Impact factors; Journal Impact Factor; science metrics; scientific publishing; science metrics; bibliometrics; scientific publishing

The recent explosion in the number of predatory journals has led to the appearance of questionable websites providing fake or spurious impact factors, which are analyzed and discussed here. We believe that academic associations, universities, and research funding bodies must take action to stop thes...