Gerontology: Open Access Evaluation

Open Access publications are freely available online, and usually without restrictions on copyright or licensing. Revenue is generated by charging a publication fee to the authors.

Library Databases

Ulrich's Periodicals Directory 

1. Provides Indexing and Open Access information. 
2. Search by Journal Title and ISSN (8 digit number).
   • Ulrich's shows resources as Peer-Reviewed if there is a black and white Referee symbol left of the journal. 
   • Click on Abstracting & Indexing tab: If indexed in only a few places, it could be a problem.

Journal Citation Reports 

1. Search by Journal Title to access Impact Factor. 
2. Predatory Publishers may have inaccurate Impact Factor scores.
   • Note: not all journals have impact factors.

External Websites

Directory of Open Access Journals 

1. Search by Journal Title and ISSN. Look for Orange Seal and Green Check as markers of quality.     
2. More likely to be high quality if here.

​Beall's List 

1. Potentially published by PREDATORY PUBLISHER if journal is listed here.
2. Note: Search by Publisher too.

Note: these are considerations. Evaluate these in combination with other factors to make an overall decision

1. Journal scope should not be too broad
2. Should have a governing body with expertise that matches the journal scope
3. Website quality should be professional
4. Consistent journal issues: frequency of publication and number of articles published per issue
5. Should have transparent policies and procedures
6. Should have transparent and appropriate fees
7. Acceptance of articles should not be too fast
8. Is it a very new journal?

Note: these are considerations. Evaluate these in combination with other factors to make an overall decision

1. Does the article appear to be peer reviewed / quality information?
2. Is copyediting good?
3. Is full-text access available?
4. Is author unknown or new to field?

Note: these are considerations. Evaluate these in combination with other factors to make an overall decision

Similar to Journal Considerations:

1. Should have transparent policies and procedures
2. Website quality should be professional
3. Should not have multiple journals listing same editors/reviewers
4. Contact information should available

Note: these are considerations. Evaluate these in combination with other factors to make an overall decision