The following FAQs address common concerns related to Predatory Conferences.
What are predatory conferences and how can I identify them?
Predatory conferences are events that exploit researchers by offering substandard academic content and charging high registration fees without providing genuine academic value. To identify them:
How can I differentiate between legitimate and predatory conferences?
Differentiate by:
Predatory conferences exploit and profit from researchers eager to present their work at an ostensibly prestigious ‘international’ event. These conferences are typically poorly organised and of low quality, often conducting little to no peer review of submitted research. Organisers primarily generate revenue through registration fees and may sometimes inform registrants that the conference has been cancelled without refunding the fees.
Source: Think. Check. Attend.
Before committing to a conference, consider the following checklist developed by Andy Nobes, as shared with AuthorAID. These questions can help you assess the legitimacy of a conference:
Peer Awareness:
Have your peers and senior colleagues in your field heard of or attended this conference? Would they recommend it?
Relevance:
Is the content of the conference relevant to your field?
Focus:
Is the topic of the conference sufficiently focused to ensure you will hear about relevant research and meet pertinent researchers? For example, conferences titled “International Conference of Social Sciences” or “International Conference on Business and Economics” may be too broad and raise questions about the conference’s purpose.
Academic Value vs. Location:
Does the conference prioritise academic value over its tourist destination? Assess the conference based on its content rather than its location.
International Quality:
If the conference title includes the word ‘international’, are you confident that it is a high-quality, truly international event?
Organiser Credibility:
Who is organising the conference, and for what reason? Is the goal or theme of the conference clear and specific? Avoid generic phrases such as ‘to promote scientific innovation’ or ‘to facilitate dissemination of research findings’.
Focus of Organisers:
Do the organisers seem fully focused on making this a high-quality conference, or are they involved in multiple events simultaneously?
Host Institution Appropriateness:
If hosted by a university or research institution, does it seem like the most appropriate host? Are they advertising the conference on their website or campus?
Reputable Organisation:
Is the conference organised by a scholarly or non-profit organisation you are familiar with? Does this organisation list the conference on their website?
Commercial Organisers:
If organised by a commercial company, is there a clear partnership with a reputable institution, society, or research institute, either internationally or locally? Is there a partnership with a reputable publisher or publication?
Note: The majority of these questions should be answered with a ‘Yes’ to indicate legitimacy.
Source: AuthorAID Team
Conference Checker tools are designed to help researchers assess the legitimacy and credibility of conferences before deciding to attend or present their work. These tools typically use checklists or questionnaires to evaluate various aspects of a conference, such as organisational transparency, peer review processes, and publication opportunities.
Website: Think. Check. Attend.
Description: A comprehensive resource aimed at assisting researchers in evaluating the credibility of conferences. It provides a 14-question checklist covering essential factors to consider before registering for a conference.
How to Use:
Source: Think. Check. Attend.
Description: An adaptation of the original Conference Checker by Think. Check. Attend., tailored specifically by the University of Queensland. It maintains the same 14-question checklist to help evaluate conference legitimacy.
How to Use:
Description: A trusted database that indexes legitimate conference proceedings, ensuring that the conferences meet certain quality and academic standards.
How to Use:
Website: Scopus
Description: Scopus is a renowned abstract and citation database that tracks and indexes reputable conferences and their proceedings.
How to Use:
Source: Elsevier - Scopus
Lists of Predatory Conferences compile names and details of conferences that have been identified as predatory based on specific criteria. These lists serve as warnings to researchers, helping them avoid engaging with disreputable events.
Website: Kscien - Predatory Conferences
Description: A curated list maintained by the Kscien Organisation to help researchers identify and avoid predatory conferences. It includes detailed information about conferences that exhibit predatory characteristics.
Use: Regularly consult this list when considering attending or submitting to a conference to ensure it is not flagged as predatory.
Source: Kscien Organisation
Website: Flaky Academic Conferences
Description: A blog managed by Professor David Kaye of Penn State University, dedicated to highlighting dubious and predatory conferences. It provides updates and detailed analyses of questionable events.
How to Use:
Source: Flaky Academic Conferences Blog
While primarily a checker tool, Think. Check. Attend. also maintains resources that list known predatory conferences and provides guidelines to identify them.
Description: Offers a list of red flags and examples of predatory conferences to aid researchers in making informed decisions.
Enhance your understanding of predatory conferences through the following scholarly articles and resources:
Grove, J. (2017). Ignorance of predatory conferences means warning signs are missed.
Access Link
Grove, J. (2017). Predatory conferences ‘now outnumber official scholarly events’.
Access Link
Nobes, A. (2017). What are ‘predatory’ conferences and how can I avoid them? AuthorAID Team.
Access Link
Pai, M. & Franco, E. (2017). Predatory Conferences Undermine Science And Scam Academics.
Access Link
Note: Access to some articles may require institutional subscriptions or access through academic databases.
Adhering to the following best practices can help you steer clear of predatory conferences:
Research the Organisers:
Verify the credentials and affiliations of the organising committee. Legitimate conferences are typically organised by reputable academic institutions or professional organisations.
Check Accreditation:
Ensure the conference is recognised by established academic or professional bodies.
Review Past Conferences:
Examine previous editions of the conference to assess its history, reputation, and the quality of past events.
Seek Recommendations:
Consult with colleagues, mentors, or your institution’s research office about the conference’s legitimacy.
Assess Publication Opportunities:
Legitimate conferences often publish proceedings in reputable journals or index them in recognised databases like Scopus or Clarivate.
Evaluate the Programme:
A well-structured programme featuring reputable speakers and diverse topics is a positive indicator of credibility.
Source: Think. Check. Attend. - Best Practices
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