Scholarly databases under scrutiny

Abstract

The study aims to investigate whether indices (e.g. SSCI/ SCI/AHCI/ESCI, SCOPUS, MEDLINE, HW Wilson, ERIC) include potentially fake journals (PFJs) identified earlier in Beall’s list. Fourteen indices were examined to find out if PFJs are indexed by indices. The study also aims to provide detailed data regarding which of these indices include such PFJs along with information about the number of issues and articles published per year and publication fees charged by PFJs indexed by ordinary indices. The universe of the PFJs is composed of those listed in the Beall list ( n=2708), and the study aimed to reach all the universe instead of being content with a sample from it. The results of the study indicated that one PFJ was indexed by SCI and two were indexed by ESCI. In addition, it was found that 53 PFJs were indexed by SCOPUS, 12 by ERIC and six by MEDLİNE. It was revealed that PFJs indexed by indices have significantly higher numbers of articles published annually and charge significantly higher fees compared to PFJs that are not indexed in such indices.