Is that a real scientific journal? Look carefully

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the legitimacy of open-access scientific journals, particularly in light of a New York Times article highlighting concerns about questionable practices in some of these publications. Participants share their experiences and opinions regarding the reliability of such journals.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested, Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express skepticism about the legitimacy of many open-access journals, referencing an article that discusses the prevalence of questionable practices.
  • One participant notes receiving frequent emails from what they consider fake journals, suggesting that the use of titles like "Professor" can be a red flag.
  • Another participant shares their preference for traditional journals, specifically mentioning their use of APS and Google Scholar for accessing credible research, while expressing caution towards open-access journals.
  • There is mention of ReadCube as a preferred tool for finding credible research articles, indicating a reliance on certain platforms over open-access options.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the need for caution regarding open-access journals, but there is no consensus on the overall legitimacy of these journals or the best alternatives for accessing scientific literature.

Contextual Notes

Participants' views are influenced by personal experiences and the perceived credibility of various platforms, with no clear resolution on the legitimacy of open-access journals as a whole.

jtbell
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Is that a "real" scientific journal? Look carefully!

Article in today's New York Times about the increasing number of open-access scientific journals, some or many of which have questionable legitimacy:

Scientific Articles Accepted (Personal Checks, Too)
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I get emails about every other week from various fake journals about a "call for papers". A big tipoff is when they address me as Professor. lol
 
I never trusted open access journals outside of arxiv. I usually go through aps as I was able to obtain free subscriptions to research papers because of my student status etcetera. Otherwise, google scholar is a good tool to use for your research as well as readcube that compiles a bunch of credible research articles related to certain topics that you would like to know more about.

I use readcube more often than any other engine as I tend to get more information if I go that route. All in all, I'd tread along the "open-access" a bit carefully.
 

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