Predatory Journals and Publishers: Understanding Researchers’ Knowledge and Perception Towards Predatory Publishing

Objectives: This study aimed to understand the researchers’ Knowledge and Motivation Towards Predatory Publishing. Materials and Methods: The convenience sampling method was selected and all the faculty members and research scholars from Medical, Dental, and Allied Health Sciences Departments of the University . Participants who were absent on the day of data collection were excluded from the study. A pre-validated questionnaire prepared by Cobey et al was used and it was then peer-reviewed by the subject specialists for content validity and relevance. The questionnaire consists of participants’ demographics, participants’ perceptions, and experience in publishing in predatory journals. Results: Out of the 150 survey respondents, 39 individuals (26%) indicated the existence of a formal policy regarding publication in predatory journals. Additionally, 29 participants (19.3%) acknowledged that they were aware the journal to which they submitted their work was predatory. Furthermore, 72 respondents (48%) indicated that they used the online submission platform to submit their manuscripts to the journal.Conclusion: The study’s findings suggested that most of the participants lacked awareness of predatory journals and exhibited a challenge distinguishing between predatory and reputable scholarly publications.