Misleading Metrics and Iranian Journals

To investigate the characteristics of misleading metrics and identify the extent to which Iranian journals use such indicators.

Charctrisitcs were harvested form th eliterature. Then, 410 Iranian journals using such metrics were identified from the misleading metrics websites. Data analysis was conducted using Microsoft Excel.

Sudden disappearance from the web, large number of indexed journals, ambiguous and non-scientific methodologies, lack of accurate contact information, failure to notify about the scientific and administarive staff, charging journals for the calculation of metrics and conducting the evaluation in a short period of time were common. The name and information of 410 Iranian journals were listed in the website of 23 misleading metrics, 49 accredited by The Iranian Ministry of Science, Research and Technology (MSRT) and 101 titles accredited by The Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MHME) mentioned at-least one misleading metric in their websites. Out of medical science journals 56% are affiliated with the medical science universities and institutions.

Utilizing misleading metrics negatively affect the reputation of scientific journals. That put them at the rist to be listed as as predatory journals. Editorial boards are advised to avoid being indexed in misleading metrics and focus on reputable information and citation databases.