Escuela de editores: Una discusión crítica de las convocatorias (calls for papers) de revistas científicas: Usos, excesos y riesgos editoriales

Machin-Mastromatteo, Juan-D. Escuela de editores: Una discusión crítica de las convocatorias (calls for papers) de revistas científicas: Usos, excesos y riesgos editoriales. Revista Estudios de la Información, 2025, vol. 3, n. 1, pp. 94-104. [Journal article (Paginated)]

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English abstract

A call for papers is an open invitation for researchers to submit their work to a journal or professional event. In this article, focused on the calls for papers issued by scientific journals, I present a critical analysis of their use, identifying the risks derived from their excessive or inappropriate application, which may compromise the integrity and credibility of scientific publishing. I examine their characteristics, usefulness and relevance as a research topic, their acceptable uses, and provide a review of their positive and negative aspects. Positive aspects include attracting recognized authors; promoting emerging topics; increasing editorial dynamism and journal visibility; boosting the number of articles received and published; supporting researchers in enhancing their academic profiles; and the value of the thematic compilation with geographic diversity. Conversely, negative aspects include potential associations with predatory journals, concerns over excessively rapid review and publication processes, difficulties in assessing quality, lack of transparency, limited evidence of effectiveness, attraction of paper mills, a rise in irrelevant submissions, and inflation and collusion in special issues.

Spanish abstract

Una convocatoria o call for papers es una invitación abierta a investigadores para que envíen sus trabajos a una revista o evento profesional. En este artículo, centrado en las convocatorias emitidas por revistas científicas, presento un análisis crítico sobre su uso, identificando los riesgos derivados de su aplicación excesiva o inadecuada, los cuales pueden comprometer la integridad y credibilidad de la publicación científica. Como tal, examino sus características, utilidad e interés como tema de investigación, sus usos aceptables y proveo una revisión de sus aspectos positivos y negativos. Los positivos incluyen la atracción de autores reconocidos; el impulso a temas emergentes; un mayor dinamismo editorial; mejora de la visibilidad; incremento en el número de artículos recibidos y publicados; su apoyo para mejorar el perfil académico de los investigadores; y el valor de la compilación temática con diversidad geográfica. En contraparte, entre los aspectos negativos de las convocatorias destacan: su posible asociación con las revistas predatorias; sospechas por una excesiva rapidez en la evaluación y publicación; dificultades para distinguir su calidad; una posible falta de transparencia; lo complicado que es evaluar su efectividad; su atracción a las fábricas de artículos; el aumento de envíos irrelevantes; y la inflación y colusión en números especiales.

Item type: Journal article (Paginated)
Keywords: convocatorias, editores, revistas científicas, números especiales, calidad científica, integridad editorial, normas editoriales, prácticas editoriales, publicación científica, revistas predatorias
Subjects: E. Publishing and legal issues.
H. Information sources, supports, channels.
Depositing user: Dr. Juan-D. Machin-Mastromatteo
Date deposited: 23 Jul 2025 09:03
Last modified: 23 Jul 2025 09:03
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10760/46948

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