Most Universities are now rejecting journal articles listed in Beall list (that has gone oblivion). How can we enhance the field of scholarly publishing especially for younger academics/researchers that might not have the capacity to publish in indexed platforms such as Scimago, WoS, Scopus, etc. Do you have any Idea?
Please, allow me to challenge you on the assumption that you made that young researchers might not have the capacity to publish in indexed journals. Honestly, I think that's not true and encourages the false belief that publishing in predatory journals is acceptable for ERCs.
My first article was in a predatory journal and it's a stain on my resume that I wish I could remove. I published in the fake journal out of ignorance. If I had known I would have searched for indexed journals.
By the way, I did the research when I was an undergrad in Zimbabwe. At that time, the economy in Zimbabwe was in shambles. My point is, I managed to do good science in an non-conducive environment.
Young researchers are capable of doing great research. Right now, my undergrad student has a manuscript under review in Journal of Environmental Management (indexed by all major databases, IF 4.0). He did his research in Zimbabwe at a university that has an ill-equiped chemistry lab.
As young researchers, what we want to be told is how to make our research novel/significant, reproducible, repeatable, and valid.
Hi Edmond,
I think that you misunderstood my post and so your lead points derailed from the post intent.
Please note that no serious journal will consider paper from Undergraduate students except under extreme mentorship that satisfies top-notch publication requirement of novelty and impact. (This is largely lacking in African context due to ill-equipped labs, weak exposure, etc). Your narrated experience as an undergraduate validate my point (ignorance as a defective capacity among others)
No doubt, young researchers are capable of doing great research but note that your "great research" is relative in context.
Again, It is clear that most of us made the mistake of publishing in predatory journals in the time past. Please, my post never justified publishing in predatory journals in any way rather it seeks for suggestions on how make our research novel/significant, reproducible, valid and Top-notch as you highlighted.
Please make your suggestions in this regard OK. Congrats on the efforts of your student. Notify me once the journal Accept the Paper.
Best wishes.
Rephrasing your question: How can we facilitate sound academic publishing among young researchers who face challenges with publishing in indexed journals such as Scimago, WoS, Scopus, etc?
My response:
1. Researchers need formal training in the philosophy of science in undergrad. For example, the reason why the nature of good science is debatable in some quarters is lack of a basic grasp of the philosophy of science.
2. Researchers, particularly graduate students, need formal training in peer review. I have taken several peer review classes from American Chemical Society's Reviewer Lab, Elsevier's Researcher Academy, Nature's Masterclass, and Publons Academy. The result was my last papers in Water Research and Environmental Pollution received only a minor revision on first submission.
3. Young researchers need to be more intentional in seeking mentorship. Nothing trumps being willing to learn from people of different backgrounds. I have learned from my undergraduate students as much as I have learned from my supervisors who were editors of top notch journals.
4. Learn how to write a manuscript and don't forget to experiment with all types of manuscripts. I took online classes on writing from Stanford University, Elsevier Research Academy, Springer Author Academy, Coursera and EdX. All these classes were free.
5. Young researchers should cultivate a habit of regularly reading good studies working and beyond their area of interest. Weekly TOCs from reliable journals might be helpful. Through reading one can find potential experimental techniques they could use in their studies.
6. Collaborations could help. My undergraduate research which was even referenced in a report by European Union Food Safety Agency was a result of collaborations. I didn't have the equipment to complete the study, so I asked those who did.
These are my ideas on how to assist young researchers.
noted but hope those Universities rejecting publications are not rejected too?
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