Indexing in crisis: contradictory, unethical and questionable attitudes adopted by scientific journals

The pressure for indexing compromises the editorial policies of journals. This has led to predatory journals and unethical practices, consequently transforming some publications into commercial entities. Researchers, pressured to be indexed, may compromise the integrity of their work, which affects trust in scientific literature and the quality of research. In this regard, the objective of this study was to identify unethical attitudes assumed by scientific journals that have been influenced by the need for indexing. In this way, classic documentary analysis was used as the main method, corresponding to a documentary study with a theoretical contribution. The results obtained include the systematization of unethical practices carried out within the framework of scientific journals to increase their positioning in databases and other evaluation sources. It was concluded that the positioning of scientific journals is a complex phenomenon that involves editorial quality, impact metrics, and communication strategies. The obsession with indexing can compromise the integrity of research and divert the focus from the scientific mission. It is essential that editors and researchers reflect on their practices, prioritizing quality and ethics to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and social well-being.