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Fake vs. Real: Identifying & Evaluating Information Sources: Predatory Journals and Academic Sources

This guide provides you with resources to help you differentiate between fake news and genuine sources of news and information.

Definition

Scholarly journals are also called academic, peer-reviewed, or refereed journals. Strictly speaking, peer-reviewed (also called refereed) journals refer only to those scholarly journals that submit articles to several other scholars, experts, or academics (peers) in the field for review and comment. These reviewers must agree that the article represents properly conducted original research or writing before it can be published.

(guides.library.cornell.edu/scholarlyjournals)

How to Identify a Scholarly Peer Reviewed Journal Article

  1. Look for clues that indicate the author(s) is a scholar/researcher – Author credentials e.g. PhD, MD and/ or affiliations e.g. University Professor or Medical Doctor
  2. Has a specific purpose to provide original research that furthers our understanding about a topic 
  3. Has a clear structure - indicating a research study, with headings such as: 
  • Introduction, Purpose or Objective; Research Methods or Design; Analysis, Themes or Theoretical Approach; Results or Findings; Discussion or Conclusion
  • Generally lengthy (more than 5 pages) & properly formatted
  1. Review the language, tone, and point of view of the article – formal and technical language with an objective point of view, logical tone and many citations to published research that support its claims.

  2. “Looks” like an Academic/ Scholarly Journal

  • Detailed description on its About, Aims & Scope sections

  • Plain visual appearance with minimal advertising and colour

  1. A "received" date and "accepted" date, which indicate a peer review process prior to publication

  2. Has an abstract on the front page, which summarizes the content of the article

Predatory Journals

“Predatory journals and publishers are entities that prioritize self-interest at the expense of scholarship and are characterized by false or misleading information, deviation from best editorial and publication practices, a lack of transparency, and/or the use of aggressive and indiscriminate solicitation practices.”

Extract from Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-03759-y

Identifying Predatory Journals: Some things to look out for

1.Poor and unprofessional looking website
2.Charging exorbitant fees for publication of articles
3.Lack of peer-review or editorial oversight.
4.Listing academics as members of editorial boards without their permission or listing fake scholars as members of editorial boards or authors.
5.The journal defines no clear publication date.
6.The journal’s contact email address is non-professional and non-journal affiliated (e.g. @gmail.com or @yahoo.com). 
7.The journal sends open calls/unsolicited emails to many authors to invite them to submit papers to them.
8.Fake, non-existent, or misrepresented impact factors.
9.The journal is not read or known by your colleagues or peers.

Scholarly/ Scientific Articles: Don't get Scammed

Data and Statistics

Learning how data and statistics are used in everyday media is another step that can help us in distinguishing the real meaning within the data represented.  
 

The use of electronic resources must comply with the Appropriate Use of Electronic Resources Policy and Singapore Management University Acceptable Use Policy