Operational Methods:

1. These types of journals invite scholars to submit papers in an open access publishing manner, and charge APCs (Article Processing Charges, or publishing fees) for the publication.
2. However, there is no actual peer review and editing service, leading to poor article quality.
3. When scholars realize something is wrong and want to withdraw their papers, predatory journals may even demand other fees.

Impact:

1. If one inadvertently falls into the trap of a predatory journal, not only will the fruit of hard work be in vain.
2. It may also damage one’s academic reputation.
3. Have a negative impact on the academic community.

How to Identify:

About “Potential Predatory Journals”.

• Content
  1. There is an unusually large breadth of academic fields and topics contained in one journal.
  2. The nomenclature of the journal appears inconsistent with the field of the articles included.
  3. Unusually high impact factor.
  4. The field of the journal does not align with the researcher or their article’s topic.
  5. Overemphasis on its inclusion in some renowned academic databases.
  6. The name of the journal is very similar to that of another respected journal, or specifically includes the word “International” in its name.
• Fees
  1. Guarantees fast review and publication.
  2. Charges authors with different items throughout the review and publication process.
  3. Does not clearly list the article processing charges (APCs).
• Publishers
  1. Does not provide the name of the editor, or provides false editor information.
  2. Does not list the contact information of the journal or publisher’s office.
  3. The publisher's title commonly incorporates terms such as “United States” (American), “Canada,” “Britain” (British), etc., but it is not actually a publisher legally registered in these countries.

Courses and Self-check:

1. Center for Taiwan Academic Ethics Education Resource “Predatory Journal and Publishing” course
2. Provides a self-checklist for checking predatory journals (Think.Check.Submit.)

Identification Methods:

• Positive list reference
  Verify the quality of the journal with the following trusted resources, indicating journals that have undergone rigorous review and are considered credible:
   
  1. Journal Citation Reports (JCR) Impact factor: Assess the influence and quality of journals in the academic community.
  2. Clarivate free Master Journal List: Provides a reliable list of journals that have been reviewed and accredited.
  3. Scopus indicator: Scopus is a large literature database containing peer-reviewed academic journals.
  4. DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals): A directory of open access journals that have been reviewed and meet open access standards.
• Negative list reference
  Identify negative resources that may indicate predatory journals engaging in poor quality or dishonest practices:
   
  1. Beall’s list of potential predatory journals and publishers: Created by Jeffrey Beall, this list identifies journals and publishers that may engage in predatory practices.

Further Reference Information on Preventing Predatory Journals and Conferences:

1. Conducting relevant checks and confirmations before registration: The most commonly used conference checklist currently is the Conference Checker on the Think.Check.Attend website. The authenticity of the conference can be ascertained through examining the "Organizers and Sponsors," "Agenda and Editorial Committee," and "Conference Proceedings".
2. Reviewing lists of reputable or questionable conferences: Some organizations and individuals establish reference lists based on specific purposes and needs, which can be reviewed before registering for a conference.
3. Handling suggestions after registration: With regards to the Academia Sinica "Academic Ethics - Predatory Journals and Conferences" section and the recommendations from the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute's (OHRI) Journalology webpage, if teachers and students have already submitted to a predatory journal, they should take the following actions: do not pay publication fees, do not sign the copyright agreement, request to withdraw and retract the paper, do not pay withdrawal and retraction fees, and be proactive in disclosing this submission experience when submitting this work to other journals in the future in order to avoid further victimization.
4. More information: The Ministry of Education has established a "Beware of Predatory Journals and Conferences" material package on the "Taiwan Academic Ethics Education Resource Center" website. This website provides online courses, promotional materials, and related resources, and is constantly updated with new resources and important information. Please make full use of these resources.