Thousands of Questionable Journals Exposed by AI: Discover the Impact on Research Quality

Researchers are using a new AI tool to spot troubling open-access journals. In a recent study, they screened about 15,000 journals and found over 1,000 that may not follow proper publishing standards.

The study, published in Science Advances, highlights a growing issue: many open-access journals charge fees for publishing without thorough peer review. Jennifer Byrne, a researcher from the University of Sydney, stressed that these journals can seem credible but actually may not meet quality standards.

The AI tool analyzes various factors, like how quickly journals publish articles and their rates of self-citation. It also checks if their editorial board members are from respected institutions. Daniel Acuña, a co-author from the University of Colorado Boulder, emphasizes that while the tool is powerful, it shouldn’t replace human evaluation. Experts should always be involved in the review process to make final decisions.

Cenyu Shen, from the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), noted that questionable journals are becoming more cunning, with some acquiring legitimate titles to flood the market with low-quality papers. In 2024, DOAJ investigated 473 journals, a 40% increase from 2021.

The AI tool has its flaws, too. It misidentified some journals and missed others that should have been flagged. This shows that there’s still a need for human oversight.

As the landscape of academic publishing continues to evolve, it’s clear that tools like these are essential. They can help preserve the integrity of research, ensuring that valuable studies get the attention they deserve. For more information on this topic, you can check out the DOAJ.

Source link

Machine learning,Publishing,Scientific community,Science,Humanities and Social Sciences,multidisciplinary