Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 28, 2025
16:03
A Fish-feeding Laboratory Bioassay to Assess the Antipredatory Activity of Secondary Metabolites from the Tissues of Marine Organisms
Published on: January 11, 2015
9.9K
Defining predatory journals and responding to the threat they pose: a modified Delphi consensus process
Samantha Cukier1, Manoj Lalu1,2, Gregory L Bryson1,2
1Centre for Journalology, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
BMJ Open
|February 12, 2020
Summary
A Delphi survey defined predatory journals and publishers, creating consensus on detection checklists, educational outreach, and technological solutions to combat scholarly publishing misconduct.
Area of Science:
- Scholarly communication
- Bibliometrics
- Research integrity
Background:
- Predatory journals and publishers pose a significant threat to research integrity and scholarly communication.
- Lack of a clear consensus definition hinders efforts to combat predatory publishing.
- Existing methods for identifying predatory journals are insufficient.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a consensus definition of predatory journals and publishers using a modified Delphi survey.
- To identify effective educational outreach and policy initiatives.
- To explore technological solutions for detecting and preventing submissions to predatory journals.
Main Methods:
- A modified three-round Delphi survey was conducted online and in-person.
- Snowball and purposive sampling identified 45 diverse experts in predatory publishing and journalology.
- 115 individuals completed the survey, reaching consensus on 18 out of 33 items for the definition.
Main Results:
- Consensus was reached on 18 items contributing to a definition of predatory journals and publishers.
- Key areas for educational outreach and policy include a checklist for detection and public funding for research.
- Technological solutions proposed include a 'one-stop-shop' website and a 'predatory journal research observatory'.
Conclusions:
- The Delphi process successfully informed a consensus definition of predatory journals and publishers.
- The developed definition and proposed initiatives will aid institutions, funders, and stakeholders in avoiding predatory publishing.
- This work provides a foundation for practical guidance and interventions against scholarly publishing misconduct.
Related Concept Videos
01:50Threats to Biodiversity
26.4K
There have been five major extinction events throughout geological history, resulting in the elimination of biodiversity, followed by a rebound of species that adapted to the new conditions. In the current geological epoch, the Holocene, there is a sixth extinction event in progress. This mass extinction has been attributed to human activities and is thus provisionally called the Anthropocene. In 2019 the human population reached 7.7 billion people and is projected to comprise 10 billion by...
26.4K
02:39Predator-Prey Interactions
20.9K
Predators consume prey for energy. Predators that acquire prey and prey that avoid predation both increase their chances of survival and reproduction (i.e., fitness). Routine predator-prey interactions elicit mutual adaptations that improve predator offenses, such as claws, teeth, and speed, as well as prey defenses, including crypsis, aposematism, and mimicry. Thus, predator-prey interactions resemble an evolutionary arms race.
20.9K
01:19Pharmacovigilance
1.5K
Post-marketing surveillance is a critical component of pharmaceutical regulation, often uncovering unanticipated adverse drug reactions (ADRs) once a drug is widely used over an extended period.
This process, termed pharmacovigilance, aims to detect, evaluate, and minimize harmful effects related to medication use. The data collection for pharmacovigilance depends on spontaneous reporting systems, where healthcare professionals or patients voluntarily report suspected ADRs.
In some cases, there...
This process, termed pharmacovigilance, aims to detect, evaluate, and minimize harmful effects related to medication use. The data collection for pharmacovigilance depends on spontaneous reporting systems, where healthcare professionals or patients voluntarily report suspected ADRs.
In some cases, there...
1.5K
02:07Conservation of Declining Populations
12.4K
Conservation of declining population focuses on ways of detecting, diagnosing, and halting a population decline. The approach uses methods to prevent populations from going extinct.
12.4K
01:23Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches
340
Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
340
02:58Regulated Protein Degradation
8.6K
It is vital to regulate the activity of enzymatic as well as non-enzymatic proteins inside the cell. This can be achieved either through creating a balance between their rate of synthesis and degradation or regulating the intrinsic activity of the protein. Both these regulation mechanisms play an essential role in the normal functioning of cells.
Protein degradation plays two important roles in the cells. It helps to protect cells from misfolded or damaged proteins before they lead to a...
Protein degradation plays two important roles in the cells. It helps to protect cells from misfolded or damaged proteins before they lead to a...
8.6K