Imagine submitting your hard-earned research, only to have it held hostage by a journal demanding payment for its release. This is the shocking reality faced by one researcher, who inadvertently fell victim to a predatory publishing scheme. But here's where it gets even more alarming...
In August, a researcher, wishing to remain anonymous, submitted a manuscript to what they believed was the prestigious Academy of Management Journal. However, due to a striking similarity in names, the paper ended up in the hands of the Academy of Strategic Management Journal, a publication with a questionable reputation. The researcher quickly realized the mistake and requested to withdraw the submission. What happened next is a cautionary tale for academics everywhere.
The journal demanded a staggering €1,519 (approximately $1,770) to 'remove the article from their database.' This is not a typical processing fee but a ransom, plain and simple. The researcher’s attempts to withdraw the paper were ignored, and instead, they received an email claiming the journal was 'working on' the article and inquiring about revisions. This blatant disregard for the author’s wishes raises serious ethical concerns.
And this is the part most people miss: The Academy of Strategic Management Journal is not what it seems. Despite claiming to be indexed in Scopus, it was delisted in 2021. Its most recent volume features articles from non-existent universities, none of which have DOIs or author contact information. Even more troubling, the journal lists editors-in-chief who deny any affiliation with it. Sang-Bing Tsai, one of the named editors, stated he has no connection to the journal and had requested his name be removed years ago. Similarly, Shawn Carraher, another listed editor, claims a post-doctoral affiliation with Harvard University, which Harvard denies.
But here's the controversial part: Is this an isolated incident, or does it reveal a deeper issue in academic publishing? The journal is published by Allied Business Academies, a company notorious for fake conferences and journals, as reported by CBC News and La Presse. Allied Business Academies even appeared on Beall’s list of predatory publishers before the site shut down in 2017. The company dissolved in 2024, but the damage to academic integrity remains.
This story raises critical questions: How can researchers protect themselves from predatory journals? Should there be stricter regulations to prevent such exploitation? And what responsibility do academic institutions and publishers have in safeguarding scholarly work?
We want to hear from you: Have you ever encountered a predatory journal? What steps do you think should be taken to address this issue? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Together, we can shed light on these shady practices and protect the integrity of academic research.
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