Predatory Journals: Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of Literature Published between 2012 and 2021

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to identify the trends in predatory publishing and to compile a core reading list of documents on the topic of ‘predatory journals.’ The study examined 541 documents on the topic of ‘predatory journals’ indexed in the Web of Science database published between 2012 and 2021. The data set was analyzed quantitatively (bibliometric study) and qualitatively (document classification). For bibliometric analysis, parameters like year, disciplines, number of citations, countries, document types, and journals were used. The documents were classified into four groups, namely, General (326), Empirical Studies (89), Technical Specifics (71), and Cautionary Texts (55). The results of the analysis and co-relation between quantitative and qualitative parameters reveal that publications in medical sciences (221) form the majority in almost all groups. There is a steady growth in publications in all groups during 2018 and 2019. Research papers and editorial materials are greater in number. The largest number of documents are from the United States (163 documents). A large number of papers have been published in the journals Scientometrics (22) and Learned Publishing (28). The most highly cited (17) papers have been published in Nature. The core reading list of forty documents on predatory journals is the outcome of the study after examining the co-relationship between the two methods. The core reading list may assist new researchers in comprehending the various aspects of predatory journals. The article concludes with suggestions for further research.