What is it about?
This article investigates the incentives academic authors have to publish in predatory journals. It finds that at one Canadian business school, the authors of predatory publications receive both financial rewards and research awards. Moreover, predatory publications do not appear to be a barrier to being hired, or gaining tenure and promotion. Contrary to previous research, it finds that it is not necessarily inexperienced authors who publish in predatory journals.
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Why is it important?
Predatory publications are a significant and growing problem in academia. Most of the previous research has examined the supply side of the market (publishers selling their services to authors). Moreover, studies of the demand side of the market, have usually not focused on the incentives authors have to buy publications in predatory journals. Without understanding these incentives, policies to combat the problems created by predatory journals are unlikely to be successful.
Perspectives
This paper is an example of taking lemons and making lemon aid. I disliked being employed by an institution where the majority of researchers published in predatory journals and were rewarded for doing so. However, as I learnt more about the literature related to predatory publications, I realized that the silver lining of working at my university was the opportunity to conduct an unique and original study of the rewards of predatory publications. Although this is the most nontechnical paper I have written, I suspect/hope it will have a greater impact than most of my other articles.
Derek Pyne
Thompson Rivers University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Rewards of Predatory Publications at a Small Business School, Journal of Scholarly Publishing, April 2017, University of Toronto Press (UTPress),
DOI: 10.3138/jsp.48.3.137.
You can read the full text:
Resources
Project MUSE version of Paper
Those at universities that don't subscribe to the journal, may find this version more accessible.
Are universities complicit in predatory publishing?
A related op-ed.
Retraction Watch interview
Brief interview which provides some background information.
Chronicle of Higher Education interview
A longer interview with a different slant. It may require a subscription to read the whole thing.
Professors who publish in 'predatory journals' see salary gains
News report about the research.
Many Academics Are Eager to Publish in Worthless Journals
New York times article that contains an interview about this research.
Some science journals that claim to peer review papers do not do so
An Economist story that mentions my paper and briefly deals with Thompson Rivers University's position on faculty who internally expose administrators with predatory publications.
Douglas Todd: B.C. economist in grim battle against deceptive scholarship
Contains some information on Thompson Rivers University's reaction to the problem.
Douglas Todd: Bogus Vancouver academic conference erupts with outrage, police
Media mention.
Douglas Todd: Investigation launched into possible breach of B.C. prof's academic freedom
The Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT) announced an Academic freedom investigation of Thompson Rivers University, largely due to their response to this research. This link is to a media story about the announcement.
Suspension of TRU professor could violate academic freedom, faculty advocates say
The following link is to a radio interview with the CAUT (Canadian Association of University Teachers) director about this research and related issues. I thought it would be a change from the print media stories I have been posting.
10/3 podcast: A B.C. economist is in hot water for exposing fake journals
This link is to a podcast by Douglas Todd (a Canadian journalist) about this research, related matters and the reaction of Thompson Rivers University. In total, it is about 15 minutes:
The future of academic freedom and the curious, disturbing case of Derek Pyne
An editorial in Canada's main national newspaper about Thompson Rivers University's reaction to this research.
The Truth
A former student, Nevin Webster did this podcast about Thompson Rivers University's reaction to this research. Accessing it might require a Facebook account.
Douglas Todd: The bogus-journals plot thickens at a B.C. university
This story primarily deals with the new university president but it does mention this research and Thompson Rivers University's reaction to it. It also contains a couple of comments I made
Scholar behind predatory journals exposé says study ‘backfired’
Interview about Thompson Rivers University's reaction to this research. May require registration to access.
TRU says professor’s suspension unrelated to his research; professor tells KTW he disagrees
Interview about research and the reaction of Thompson Rivers University
SAFS letter to Thompson Rivers University re sanctions against Derek Pyne
This First, open letter was written by Mark Mercer, president of the Society for Academic Freedom and Scholarship.
B.C. university defends controversial suspension of professor
Coverage in the main Canadian national newspaper.
Professor fights ban amid debate on academic freedom at B.C. university
A Canadian Press story. This was also published in several other newspapers.
Pointing the Finger at Colleagues
Interview and story in Inside Higher Ed
B.C. government urged to investigate Kamloops professor's suspension
News story.
Lacking Academic Scruples
Blog post about research.
TRUFA says academic freedom its main concern during investigation
A story about the TRU's reaction to this research. Note, the story contains some untrue statements by my union.
Integrity - a precious and rare commodity these days
Opinion article that mentions my research.
Professor fights ban amid debate on academic freedom at B.C. university
A local median interview.
Investigation launched into alleged academic freedom violations at Thompson Rivers University
CAUT's press release on their investigation into Thompson Rivers University's reaction to my case.
New TRU president talks academic freedom and future plans at university
This story does contain some new information. At one point, the previous interim president was claiming that Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, British Columbia could not talk to the media, and others, about my case because I had not given them permission to reveal confidential information (which they had not asked me for). Having addressed that point, they have changed the goal posts. The following story states their latest position: “The new president of Thompson Rivers University said it would still be illegal for him to disclose the reason for suspending an economics professor regardless of being given permission to do so by the suspended faculty member.” It will be interesting to find out what their next position will be.
New TRU president says predatory journals are “a significant issue”
I think that the following statement attributed to the new TRU president (see link) is incorrect “Fairbairn says it can be hard to tell when some journals online are bogus and others are legitimate.” I think that the differences are usually pretty obvious to those with even modest research experience. Common giveaways include 1. Horrible broken English. 2. Claims to be leading high quality journals even though no one in the discipline has heard of them. 3. Promises to review at a speed that no legitimate journal would ever meet, e.g. 3 days, a week, etc. Real journal would usually not even be able to find referees that fast. 4. Listing what are called ‘misleading metrics’ on their webpages. These are companies that the journal pays to give them an Impact Factor like number (some even use the term Impact Factor, in violation of copyright laws). 5. Extremely broad subject areas (some basically promise to publish in any area). 6. They seem to like words like Global or International in their names (an imperfect giveaway, as in economics international trade journals would also use the word International). 7. They claim to be American (for example) but have no Americans on their editorial boards. 8. They make up names of nonexistent academics to list on their editorial boards (or add real academics without their permission). I could go on, but I think my point is clear. I will just add, that if it were not possible for interested customers of these journals to know what the publisher is selling, it would be hard for the publishers to attract customers. Occasionally, I do meet people who I believe have been honestly duped. However, they usually learn from their mistakes after the first time they make it. I don’t think that any academic (or even most educated non-academics) would consider anything I have written about to be “inappropriate, threatening or defamatory”. Nonetheless, I am sure that TRU will claim that it is. Indeed, one thing that I have found frustrating about meeting with TRU about my case, is that there has never once been another person in the room with a traditional academic background (by traditional academic background, I mean someone with a background in both teaching and research). Anyway, I thought that the new TRU president Brett Fairbairn could tell us if the finds anything in the above to be “inappropriate, threatening or defamatory”.
University contradicts itself on why it banned professor who exposed ‘predatory’ publishing of colleagues
News story about Thompson Rivers University changing positions.
Economics Prof Banned From Campus After Publishing Article Critical Of His Colleagues' Publications In 'Predatory' Journals To Resume Teaching In January
TaxProf Blog
School Boots Professor Off Campus After He Exposes Its Complicity In Predatory Publishing Schemes
Related news Story
Suspended professor will return to TRU in January
Another story.
How hard is it to get your garbage paper published?
A short blog post about the research.
FOULDS: The crystal ball sees all in 2019
Humorous mention of the Research and the reaction of Thompson Rivers University.
Predatory Publications by TRU Professor Pyne (Part 1: The Paper)
The first of three Blog posts. I offer no opinion about the political orientation of the blog.
Predatory Publications by TRU Professor Pyne (Part 2: Meeting The Man)
Part 2 of the blog post last added.
Predatory Publications by TRU Professor Pyne (Part 3: TRU Responds)
The last part of the three part blog post above.
The Rise of Junk Science
A long form journalism article. It covers more than just my research/story. I think that it is very informative.
CHARBONNEAU: Junk publishers threaten what we know
News article mentioning the research
CAUT Report
This is a link to the report by the Canadian Association of University Teachers that deals with Thompson River's University's reaction to this work and my comments about predatory journals. It finds that TRU violated my academic freedom. It is also critical of the Thompson Rivers University Faculty Association.
B.C. university breached whistle-blowing prof’s academic freedom, says report
Media story (including brief interview) about CAUT investigation into academic freedom violations resulting from the findings of this research.
Report finds academic freedom was breached at Thompson Rivers University
A local news report on an investigation into Thomson River's University's academic freedom violations when responding to the findings of this paper. The investigation was done by the Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT)
Thompson Rivers University violated professor’s academic freedom with suspension, CAUT report says
Interview and story on Thompson Rivers University's reaction to the findings of the paper and associated violations of the authors academic freedom.
Suspension of B.C. university prof breached his academic freedom: investigation
This interview and news story was in a Canadian Press story that appeared in several media outlets. It deals with the Canadian Association of University Teachers investigation into Thompson Rivers University's violations of my academic freedom for the findings of this research.
Academic freedom breached at Thompson Rivers University, investigation finds
A CBC news report related to an investigation of Thompson Rivers University's reaction to this research.
B.C. University Breached Whistle-Blowing Prof’s Academic Freedom, Says Report
A blog post about academic freedom violations by Thompson Rivers University related to this research.
TRU professor at centre of academic freedom controversy doesn’t see matter as settled
An interview and story about Thompson River University's academic freedom violations related to this research.
University teachers organization issues scathing report after investigating academic freedom at TRU
This is related to Thompson Rivers University's response to this research.
TRU violates privacy, academic freedom of professor, investigation finds
A news report about the Canadian Association of University Teachers investigation of Thompson Rivers University's violation of academic freedom in response to this research.
Updated – TRU violated academic freedom of suspended professor, committee rules
Interview with the director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers about TRU's reaction to this research and related academic freedom violations.
Predatory Publications By Professor Pyne (Part 4: The Followup)
An interview with a local blog about an academic freedom investigation into Thompson Rivers University's response to this research.
Interview with David Robinson
A recorded radio interview, Thompson Rives University's reaction to this research, with David Robinson, the director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers (8:30 minutes).
B.C. university breached academic freedom of critical professor: probe
A news story about Thompson Rivers University's response to this research.
Report: Academic Freedom Breached at Thompson Rivers University
Post on a librarian's blog about Thompson Rivers University's reaction to this research.
Canadian Association of University Teachers probe finds academic freedom breached at Thompson Rivers University
A news report about the CAUT investigation into Thompson Rivers University's reaction to this research.
Report finds academic freedom was breached at Thompson Rivers University
News story about an investigation into Thompson Rivers University's response to this research.
Contributors
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