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ZENODO
Other literature type . 2025
License: CC BY
Data sources: ZENODO
ZENODO
Other literature type . 2025
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
ZENODO
Other literature type . 2025
License: CC BY
Data sources: Datacite
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Tell-tale signs of stealth journal takeovers: A bibliometric approach to detecting questionable publisher acquisitions

Authors: Martín-Martín, Alberto; Delgado López-Cózar, Emilio;

Tell-tale signs of stealth journal takeovers: A bibliometric approach to detecting questionable publisher acquisitions

Abstract

Stealth journal takeovers, that is, the discreet acquisition of established academic journals by entities with questionable publishing practices, represent an emerging threat to the integrity of scholarly communication. This study proposes a set of bibliometric analyses to detect such takeovers, focusing on sudden shifts in citation patterns and authorship networks. Based on an analysis of 55 journals linked to a known network of related publishers, we identify substantial increases in cross-journal citations and shared authorship following ownership transitions, often between journals with no clear thematic connection. These patterns may serve as early warning signals for bibliographic databases and other academic stakeholders aiming to avoid compromised journals. Our findings also demonstrate the potential of scientometric methods to support the detection of problematic publishing practices, contributing to the growing field of forensic scientometrics.

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    popularity
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    influence
    This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average