- CORRESPONDENCE
Defining predatory journals: no peer review, no point
- Leonhard Dobusch
University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar
- Maximilian Heimstädt
Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany.
Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar
- Katja Mayer
University of Vienna, Austria.
Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar
- Tony Ross-Hellauer
Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria.
Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar
Agnes Grudniewicz and colleagues argue for a definition of a predatory journal that will protect scholarship (Nature576, 210–212; 2019). Their proposed definition excludes an important feature of predatory journals — poor-quality peer review — on the grounds that such reviews are not accessible for analysis. It is a sad irony that this lack of transparency — a tell-tale trait of predatory journals — should be used to justify omitting an assessment of peer-review quality.
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
9,800 Yen / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscription info for Japanese customers
We have a dedicated website for our Japanese customers. Please go tonatureasia.com to subscribe to this journal.
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Nature580, 29 (2020)
doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-020-00911-x
Related Articles
Subjects
Latest on:
Jobs
Talent Recruitment: Faculty & Postdoc Positions at SiBST, Northwestern Polytechnical University
We seek researchers with a high impact in disciplines such as space science, marine science, AI, BCIs, flexible electronics, or neuroscience.
Dongxiang Road, Chang'an District, Xi'an Shaanxi,710129, P.R.China.
Sanhang Institute for Brain Science and Technology (SiBST) at Northwestern Polytechnical University
SCIENTIST – Developmental, Stem Cell & Cancer Biology Program
Discovery-based and/or translational research using model organism genetics and/or stem cell and organoid platforms to study paediatric cancer.
Toronto (City), Ontario (CA)
The Hospital for Sick Children - Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program
Associate or Senior Editor, Nature Communications (Computational Social Science)
Title: Associate or Senior Editor, Nature Communications (Computational Social Science) Location: New York, Madrid or Shanghai Closing date: Novemb...
New York City, New York (US)
Springer Nature Ltd
NHP Co-Principal Investigator/Research Professor
We are seeking highly motivated Co-Principal Investigators/Research Professors to join i-BRAIN and contribute to cutting-edge neuroscience research.
Shenzhen, Guangdong (CN)
i-BRAIN, Shenzhen Medical Academy of Research and Translation
Assistant professor in Molecular Biology or Molecular Infection Medicine - Expression of interest
Expressions of interest are invited for an Assistant Professor (tenure track) role with a generous 5-year startup package of about SEK 20M (≈EUR 1.8M)
Umeå, Sweden
Umeå University
Related Articles
Subjects
Sign up to Nature Briefing
An essential round-up of science news, opinion and analysis, delivered to your inbox every weekday.
Sign up for theNature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.