The scholarly publishing landscape has evolved dramatically over the years, offering researchers an ever-expanding array of journals to disseminate their findings. While this growth has fostered accessibility and innovation, it has also given rise to predatory publishing practices. These exploitative journals operate without robust peer-review mechanisms, compromising research integrity and tarnishing unwary researchers’ reputations. To address these challenges, the Think.Check.Submit initiative emerged as a guiding framework to empower researchers to make informed publication decisions.
What is Think.Check.Submit.?
Think.Check.Submit is a global campaign that provides researchers with a simple, structured checklist to evaluate the credibility of journals and publishers. Launched in 2015, this initiative was developed by a coalition of scholarly publishing organizations, librarians, and industry experts who identified the pressing need for researchers to assess journals before submission critically. The initiative aims to ensure that researchers—whether seasoned academics or early-career scholars—publish in journals that uphold rigorous academic and ethical standards.
How Does Think. Check. Submit. Work?
The initiative revolves around a three-step process:
- Think: Researchers are encouraged to consider a journal’s quality and credibility before submitting. Key questions to ask at this stage include:
- Does the journal’s scope align with your research?
- Who is the publisher, and what is their reputation in the field?
- Are the journal’s articles indexed in reputable databases?
- Check: This step involves a deeper examination of the journal’s attributes. Researchers should:
- Verify the presence of a clear and transparent peer-review policy.
- Review the editorial board’s composition for subject-matter expertise.
- Look for adherence to ethical publishing standards, such as those outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
- Confirm the journal’s indexing in established databases like Scopus or Web of Science.
- Submit: Once the journal passes the scrutiny of the Think and Check phases, researchers can proceed with confidence to submit their manuscript, knowing they have chosen a credible outlet for their work.
Why is Think. Check. Submit. Important?
Predatory journals pose significant risks to the academic community. They not only undermine the credibility of individual researchers but also degrade the overall quality of scientific literature. The Think. Check. Submit. initiative acts as a safeguard, equipping researchers with the tools to:
- Avoid fraudulent and predatory publishers.
- Protect their intellectual property from misuse.
- Enhance the visibility and impact of their research by selecting journals with legitimate indexing and readership.
The Impact on the Researcher Community
Since its inception, Think. Check. Submit. has had a profound impact on the global research community. By promoting awareness of predatory publishing and providing practical tools, the initiative has helped:
- Early-career researchers navigate the complexities of the publishing process.
- Established academics maintain the integrity of their publication records.
- Institutions and librarians guide their researchers in identifying trustworthy journals.
Adopting Think. Check. Submit. as a Best Practice
Academic institutions and research organizations worldwide are increasingly integrating Think. Check. Submit. into their training programs. Workshops, seminars, and online resources featuring the initiative’s principles are equipping researchers with lifelong skills to critically evaluate journals.
Conclusion
The Think. Check. Submit. initiative is more than just a checklist; it is a movement aimed at preserving the integrity of scholarly publishing. By adopting its principles, researchers can make informed decisions, ensuring their valuable findings are published in reputable journals that enhance their visibility and impact.
As the research community continues to confront the challenges of predatory publishing, initiatives like Think. Check. Submit. remain indispensable. By empowering researchers with knowledge and tools, a publishing ecosystem that upholds the highest standards of academic rigor and ethics can be collectively fostered.