The study investigates authorship patterns, geographic distribution, and educational qualifications of contributors to predatory journals in India, with a focus on understanding the ethical and academic implications of such publishing practices. The primary objectives were to analyze gender disparities in authorship, evaluate professional backgrounds, explore subject-area trends, and assess the regional distribution of publications in predatory journals. A two-stage methodology was employed, beginning with the random selection of journals from Cabell’s list of predatory outlets. A total of 400 articles from four journals were chosen, and comprehensive metadata, including gender, profession, affiliation, and qualifications, was gathered. The genderize.io tool was used to assist in gender classification, while both quantitative and qualitative approaches were applied to examine authorship trends, professional roles, publication topics, and geographic distribution. Key findings revealed a dominance of male authors in senior academic positions, while female authors were more frequently represented in junior roles. Prominent subject areas included Engineering, Law, and Computer Applications. The highest number of publications came from states like Tamil Nadu and Telangana, indicating regional variations in predatory publishing practices. Despite a significant proportion of authors holding Ph.D. degrees, missing and incomplete metadata pointed to a lack of transparency and editorial oversight in these journals. The study provides valuable insights into the systemic issues underlying predatory publishing.
更多
原文链接
分享
引用
