Email invitations to publish: Academically sound (such as SAFP) versus potentially predatory journals
Background: Researchers increasingly receive invitations by email to publish. We analysed email publication invitations received by staff members of the Department of Biostatistics, University of the Free State (UFS), comparing emails relating to accredited and non-accredited journals. Methods: Thi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2024-09-01
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| Series: | South African Family Practice |
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| Online Access: | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5984 |
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| _version_ | 1849329946483228672 |
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| author | Gina Joubert Omololu Aluko |
| author_facet | Gina Joubert Omololu Aluko |
| author_sort | Gina Joubert |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Researchers increasingly receive invitations by email to publish. We analysed email publication invitations received by staff members of the Department of Biostatistics, University of the Free State (UFS), comparing emails relating to accredited and non-accredited journals.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included all publication invitations received via UFS email accounts by staff members from May 2023 to July 2023. The researchers independently completed the data form, then checked and resolved any discrepancies.
Results: Of the 93 distinct emails received from 88 journals, only 15 (16%) were received from a journal appearing on the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) accredited journal lists. These included South African Family Practice (SAFP) and the African Journal of Primary Health Care and Family Medicine (PHCFM). Emails from non-accredited journals were significantly (p 0.01) less likely to refer to a journal with a health sciences-related title (37% vs. 86%), indicate the publisher (36% vs. 93%), provide a link to the journal website (59% vs. 100%), state a full physical address (24% vs. 80%), refer to author instructions (21% vs. 47%) or request the recipient to share the email with colleagues (5% vs. 47%). Emails from non-accredited journals were significantly (p 0.01) more likely to contain grammatical errors (63% vs. 0%) and flattering remarks regarding the recipient or his or her research work (49% vs. 0%), and to indicate the journal’s International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) (67% vs. 13%).
Conclusion: Clear differences were found between email invitations from accredited versus non-accredited journals.
Contribution: The findings provide insight into warning signals in email publication invitations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ac38a35c12ed4c44ad1e58b4a8c8c2e1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2078-6190 2078-6204 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-09-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-ac38a35c12ed4c44ad1e58b4a8c8c2e12025-08-20T03:47:07ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042024-09-01661e1e510.4102/safp.v66i1.59844468Email invitations to publish: Academically sound (such as SAFP) versus potentially predatory journalsGina Joubert0Omololu Aluko1Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinDepartment of Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, BloemfonteinBackground: Researchers increasingly receive invitations by email to publish. We analysed email publication invitations received by staff members of the Department of Biostatistics, University of the Free State (UFS), comparing emails relating to accredited and non-accredited journals. Methods: This cross-sectional study included all publication invitations received via UFS email accounts by staff members from May 2023 to July 2023. The researchers independently completed the data form, then checked and resolved any discrepancies. Results: Of the 93 distinct emails received from 88 journals, only 15 (16%) were received from a journal appearing on the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) accredited journal lists. These included South African Family Practice (SAFP) and the African Journal of Primary Health Care and Family Medicine (PHCFM). Emails from non-accredited journals were significantly (p 0.01) less likely to refer to a journal with a health sciences-related title (37% vs. 86%), indicate the publisher (36% vs. 93%), provide a link to the journal website (59% vs. 100%), state a full physical address (24% vs. 80%), refer to author instructions (21% vs. 47%) or request the recipient to share the email with colleagues (5% vs. 47%). Emails from non-accredited journals were significantly (p 0.01) more likely to contain grammatical errors (63% vs. 0%) and flattering remarks regarding the recipient or his or her research work (49% vs. 0%), and to indicate the journal’s International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) (67% vs. 13%). Conclusion: Clear differences were found between email invitations from accredited versus non-accredited journals. Contribution: The findings provide insight into warning signals in email publication invitations.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5984emailinvitationarticlespublicationsaccredited journals |
| spellingShingle | Gina Joubert Omololu Aluko Email invitations to publish: Academically sound (such as SAFP) versus potentially predatory journals South African Family Practice invitation articles publications accredited journals |
| title | Email invitations to publish: Academically sound (such as SAFP) versus potentially predatory journals |
| title_full | Email invitations to publish: Academically sound (such as SAFP) versus potentially predatory journals |
| title_fullStr | Email invitations to publish: Academically sound (such as SAFP) versus potentially predatory journals |
| title_full_unstemmed | Email invitations to publish: Academically sound (such as SAFP) versus potentially predatory journals |
| title_short | Email invitations to publish: Academically sound (such as SAFP) versus potentially predatory journals |
| title_sort | email invitations to publish academically sound such as safp versus potentially predatory journals |
| topic | email invitation articles publications accredited journals |
| url | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5984 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ginajoubert emailinvitationstopublishacademicallysoundsuchassafpversuspotentiallypredatoryjournals AT omololualuko emailinvitationstopublishacademicallysoundsuchassafpversuspotentiallypredatoryjournals |