Publishing in Open Access Journal

[platypig]

I am not sure if I should list a first author publication that I have in an open access journal. I have heard that most of these journals are predatory so I am not sure if listing it would look bad. They did charge a fee, which is consistent with all the horrible things I have read about online. People seem to think that publishing in a predatory journal is worse than not publishing at all. However, my professor is very well respected in his field and he recommended this specific journal, so I am inclined to trust his experience. The impact factor is only a few points, but I did research in a very niche field so even the most reputable journals have a lower impact factor. Just a bit worried that the first impression upon reviewing my application is that I'm disingenuous and trying to pad my research experience.
Is there any way for me to explain this on my application? Thanks!

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[Goro]

IF it's not in Pubmed, it's a predatory journal.

Google "list of predatory journals" and see if it's on the list.

Of it is, your pub will be ignored by Adcoms

 

[platypig]

IF it's not in Pubmed, it's a predatory journal.

Google "list of predatory journals" and see if it's on the list.

Of it is, your pub will be ignored by Adcoms

Thanks for your response! It is on Pubmed, but it is under MDPI, which I know used to be on the predatory lists.

 

[deleted947265]

I am not sure if I should list a first author publication that I have in an open access journal. I have heard that most of these journals are predatory so I am not sure if listing it would look bad. They did charge a fee, which is consistent with all the horrible things I have read about online. People seem to think that publishing in a predatory journal is worse than not publishing at all. However, my professor is very well respected in his field and he recommended this specific journal, so I am inclined to trust his experience. The impact factor is only a few points, but I did research in a very niche field so even the most reputable journals have a lower impact factor. Just a bit worried that the first impression upon reviewing my application is that I'm disingenuous and trying to pad my research experience.
Is there any way for me to explain this on my application? Thanks!

Not all predatory journals are open access and not all open access journals are predatory. Sniffing out whether or not a journal is predatory is a very time consuming process, especially if you don't know your way around a specific research area.

If your professor is very well respected in the field and he says that journal is good, it's probably good. Impact factor isn't exactly the end all be all: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/time-to-move-beyond-the-impact-factor/

Determing whether a journal is predatory or not is really about the peer-review process of the journal, reputation within the specialty, and how good the research actually is.

As for how AdComs do things. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

IF it's not in Pubmed, it's a predatory journal.

Google "list of predatory journals" and see if it's on the list.

Of it is, your pub will be ignored by Adcoms

This. But also in my experience, it's far from comprehensive. But you definitely don't want the journal to be on the naughty list.

 

[Dwan]

I am not sure if I should list a first author publication that I have in an open access journal. I have heard that most of these journals are predatory so I am not sure if listing it would look bad. They did charge a fee, which is consistent with all the horrible things I have read about online. People seem to think that publishing in a predatory journal is worse than not publishing at all. However, my professor is very well respected in his field and he recommended this specific journal, so I am inclined to trust his experience. The impact factor is only a few points, but I did research in a very niche field so even the most reputable journals have a lower impact factor. Just a bit worried that the first impression upon reviewing my application is that I'm disingenuous and trying to pad my research experience.
Is there any way for me to explain this on my application? Thanks!

A lot of predatory journals also list a fake IF, so it'd be good to clarify that with another outside source like JCR or SJR. Did the paper undergo a rigorous review process or did they just auto accept it with payment? I don't think listing papers in these journals can hurt you much for medical school applications as long as the name sounds ok (the majority of reviewers won't be able to differentiate journals outside of the tip top ones), but it won't look good on your CV if you want to go into serious academics in the future (if it's a scam journal).

 

[Catalystik]

Did the paper undergo a rigorous review process or did they just auto accept it with payment? I don't think listing papers in these journals can hurt you much for medical school applications as long as the name sounds ok (the majority of reviewers won't be able to differentiate journals outside of the tip top ones), but it won't look good on your CV if you want to go into serious academics in the future (if it's a scam journal).

I agree.

 

[deleted972488]

Not all predatory journals are open access and not all open access journals are predatory. Sniffing out whether or not a journal is predatory is a very time-consuming process, especially if you don't know your way around a specific research area.

If your professor is very well respected in the field and he says that journal is good, it's probably good. Impact factor isn't exactly the end all be all: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/time-to-move-beyond-the-impact-factor/

Determining whether a journal is predatory or not is really about the peer-review process of the journal, reputation within the specialty, and how good the research actually is.

As for how AdComs do things. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯





This. But also in my experience, it's far from comprehensive. But you definitely don't want the journal to be on the naughty list.

All of this. Open access doesn't mean bad (a well-known example of a very good open access journal is eLife). It was your PI's responsibility to choose a respectable journal, and if it's on PubMed, you'll be fine.

 

[platypig]

Not all predatory journals are open access and not all open access journals are predatory. Sniffing out whether or not a journal is predatory is a very time consuming process, especially if you don't know your way around a specific research area.

If your professor is very well respected in the field and he says that journal is good, it's probably good. Impact factor isn't exactly the end all be all: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/time-to-move-beyond-the-impact-factor/

Determing whether a journal is predatory or not is really about the peer-review process of the journal, reputation within the specialty, and how good the research actually is.

As for how AdComs do things. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯





This. But also in my experience, it's far from comprehensive. But you definitely don't want the journal to be on the naughty list.

Thanks for the advice! I talked to my professor and he said it was a decent journal, but not amazing. I know my research isn't top journal material so I don't mind it being published in a lower tier journal. I was only worried about how it might look to adcoms and didn't want to be published in something with a reputation for printing bad research.

 

[platypig]

A lot of predatory journals also list a fake IF, so it'd be good to clarify that with another outside source like JCR or SJR. Did the paper undergo a rigorous review process or did they just auto accept it with payment? I don't think listing papers in these journals can hurt you much for medical school applications as long as the name sounds ok (the majority of reviewers won't be able to differentiate journals outside of the tip top ones), but it won't look good on your CV if you want to go into serious academics in the future (if it's a scam journal).

Thanks! They took a few weeks the first round of review and accepted it with major revisions. The second round took maybe a week or so. The name definitely sounds legitimate. Do you think adcoms look up journals? Or do they just ignore it if it's in a field they're not interested in? I'm not looking to go into academics so I guess it's not a big deal, but I guess I still want to feel as if my research was meaningful by being published in a nice journal hahaha

 

[deleted972488]

Thanks! They took a few weeks the first round of review and accepted it with major revisions. The second round took maybe a week or so. The name definitely sounds legitimate. Do you think adcoms look up journals? Or do they just ignore it if it's in a field they're not interested in? I'm not looking to go into academics so I guess it's not a big deal, but I guess I still want to feel as if my research was meaningful by being published in a nice journal hahaha

You’re fine.

 

[platypig]

You’re fine.

Thank you!

 

[Dwan]

Thanks! They took a few weeks the first round of review and accepted it with major revisions. The second round took maybe a week or so. The name definitely sounds legitimate. Do you think adcoms look up journals? Or do they just ignore it if it's in a field they're not interested in? I'm not looking to go into academics so I guess it's not a big deal, but I guess I still want to feel as if my research was meaningful by being published in a nice journal hahaha

Yep, should be fine, I'd definitely include it. Most adcoms won't look up journals. At the pre-med level, it's already considered great to have participated in the whole scientific process as a first author. The importance/weight of research goes up the further and more specialized you are in your training, however.

 

[MedicineZ0Z]

If on pubmed, you're okay.