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Predatory Publishing

Tools & Resources to Identify Predatory Publications

There are several resources available to help you decide if a publication is predatory or not: 

Cabell's Journal Analytics and Predatory Publisher List

The Sacred Heart Library currently subscribes to the Cabells Journalytics database, which includes access to Cabell's Predatory Reports. This resource can be used to look up journals that have been identified as predatory, with each individual entry detailing all the specific reasons why a journal title has been flagged.

This is the library's primary tool for helping identify predatory publications. But while both very helpful and convenient, it's important for you to keep in mind that this is not a completely comprehensive list. If a journal is not mentioned there, it does not automatically mean that it is not predatory - it's still necessary to keep a critical eye out for red flags.

Selected Journal Evaluation Tools

You can use these two tools that were specially made to evaluate individual journal titles. 

A Note About Beall's List

Beall's List was a list of predatory or possibly predatory open access journals created by Scholarly Communications Librarian Jeffrey Beall of the University of Colorado-Denver. He maintained the list until January 2017, citing pressure from his employer.

An archived version of Beall's List is available here. Due to its reputation, Beall's List still remains a go-to for many academics who wish to look up suspect journals. However, since it has not been updated since 2017, it should not be relied upon as your primary resource when evaluating a journal. You should instead use the current tools listed above and contact your librarian for assistance as needed.

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