Publications of researchers from the Republic of Moldova in MDPI journals: a bibliometric analysis and associated controversies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52673/18570461.24.4-75.01Keywords:
MDPI, Moldovan researchers, academic publishing, predatory journals, Peer review, article processingcharges (APCs)Abstract
The study provides a comprehensive analysis of the publication activity of Moldovan researchers in MDPI journals (a global open access platform), focusing on the trends and implications of this phenomenon. It shows a significant increase in the number of publications after 2019, peaking in year 2023. The majority of these publications are in the fields of chemistry, nanotechnology and public health, with high-demand journals such as Molecules, Nanomaterials and Applied Sciences being the most prominent. A key factor attracting researchers is the speed of the publication process, with average decision times of 15 to 20 days. Despite the attractiveness of accessibility, speed of publication and indexing in Web of Science and Scopus, the study higjlights some concerns about the quality of the review process, citing issues such as high self-citation rates and the large number of special issues, which could affect editorial rigour. The article aims to provide a critical understanding of publishing in MDPI journals and to contribute to the debate on ethical and quality standards in international scholarly publishing. The results of the study highlight the importance of raising awareness among researchers and academic institutions about the risks of publishing in journals that prioritize volume over quality.
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