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Top health research funders' guidance on selecting journals for funded research
Larissa Shamseer1,2,3,4, Kelly D Cobey1,3, Matthew J Page5
1School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, K1G 5Z3, Canada.
Insights
Few health research funders offer guidance on selecting reputable journals for publication. This lack of direction may lead to research being published in predatory journals, hindering discoverability and credibility.
Area of Science:
- Health Research Funding
- Scholarly Publishing
- Research Integrity
Background:
- Funded health research is increasingly published in journals perceived as predatory, deceptive, or non-credible.
- There is a lack of knowledge regarding whether research funders provide guidance on journal selection for their funded work.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if health research funders offer guidance on selecting journals for publication.
- To assess the extent and nature of journal selection guidance provided by major health research funders.
Main Methods:
- Identified 50 major global health research funders and four from lower-middle income countries.
- Reviewed funder websites for guidance on disseminating funded research, specifically focusing on journal selection criteria (August/September 2017).
- Information was extracted and verified by two assessors; results were summarized descriptively.
Main Results:
- 86% of funders had dissemination policies, with 95% mentioning journal publication.
- Only 36% of these provided any guidance on journal selection, primarily related to open access mandates.
- A small fraction (17%) outlined specific publisher requirements or journal features to consider.
Conclusions:
- A significant gap exists in funder guidance for selecting appropriate journals to publish funded health research.
- Funders have a responsibility to ensure the discoverability and credibility of the research they support.
- This study serves as a benchmark for funder guidance on journal selection, particularly relevant before the implementation of Plan S.
Abstract:
Background: Funded health research is being published in journals that many regard as "predatory", deceptive, and non-credible. We do not currently know whether funders provide guidance on how to select a journal in which to publish funded health research. Methods: We identified the largest 46 philanthropic, public, development assistance, public-private partnership, and multilateral funders of health research by expenditure, globally as well as four public funders from lower-middle income countries, from the list at https://healthresearchfunders.org. One of us identified guidance on disseminating funded research from each funders' website (August/September 2017), then extracted information about selecting journals, which was verified by another assessor. Discrepancies were resolved by discussion. Results were summarized descriptively. This research used publicly available information; we did not seek verification with funding bodies. Results: The majority (44/50) of sampled funders indicated funding health research. 38 (of 44, 86%) had publicly available information about disseminating funded research, typically called "policies" (29, 76%). Of these 38, 36 (95%) mentioned journal publication for dissemination of which 13 (36.11%) offer variable guidance on selecting a journal, all of which relate to the funder's open access mandate. Six funders (17%) outlined publisher requirements or features by which to select a journal. One funder linked to a document providing features of journals to look for (e.g. listed in the Directory of Open Access Journals) and to be wary of (e.g., no journal scope statement, uses direct and unsolicited marketing). Conclusions: Few funders provided guidance on how to select a journal in which to publish funded research. Funders have a duty to ensure that the research they fund is discoverable by others. This research is a benchmark for funder guidance on journal selection prior to the January 2021 implementation of Plan S (a global, funder-led initiative to ensure immediate, open access to funded, published research).
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