The concept of ‘predatory’ journals has many names: fake journals, questionable journals, illegitimate journals, deceptive journals, dark journals, and journals “operating in bad faith”.

Reference → About Predatory Publishing - Think. Check. Submit

(1) Asking authors to publish for a fee (Open Access model)
(2) Fail to follow the accepted standards of publishing peer reviewed research.
(3) Exist only to make money, not to advance scholarship and knowledge.
(4) Often send out mass emails soliciting for articles or people to serve as editors or peer reviewers.

Reference → Be wary of predatory journals, University of Missouri Libraries
 

Mega journals are open access, peer-reviewed, have a broad subject scope, the research articles are judged by scientific and methodological soundness, which causes the low rejection rate has made the journals growing big, PLoS One (ISSN 1932-6203) was the first mega journal and has been very successful, the publishing model was then imitated by other publishers. 

The perception to mega journals are varied, we suggest DO NOT list mega journal article as your representative or reference publications for faculty promotion nor for application for the national-level research grant.

Resources → What you must know About mega journals, TMU Library

Courses (Need to log in with your TMU ID)
1)  How to find SCI papers & check Journal IF?
2) Ways to Spot a Predatory Journal 

Slides
● Beware of Predatory Journals (pdf)