Factors and Considerations Influencing Faculty Members’ Decision to Publish with Journals: A Nigerian University Experience

It has been observed that faculty members of Kwara State University (KWASU) in Malete, Nigeria, publish in journals based on some factors and considerations. These factors and considerations guide their choice of publishing in journals. The aim of this study was to show the factors and considerations influencing KWASU faculty members’ decision to publish with journals. The study adopted a descriptive survey method, with a web-survey questionnaire as data collection instrument. The population for the study was 482, of whom 192 respondents responded positively, representing 39.8% of the total population. A quantitative analysis was done of data collected, using the automatically-generated analysis from Google Forms. The hypothesis was tested using Microsoft Excel. It was found that some of the factors that influence the choice of KWASU faculty members to publish with journals, include: peer review; publication cost; open access; impact factor; and frequency of publication. It was found that more than half of the faculty members give consideration to editorial board lists of journals before sending out their manuscripts to journals. It was also found that there is a statistically significant relationship between factors and considerations for the choice of publishing in a journal. Challenges encountered by faculty members in publishing with journals include poor communication between author and editor, faculty members’ poor awareness of journals, difficulty in getting collaborators, and pressure to get an academic promotion.

PROSPECTS FOR THE EXIT OF MODERN PRINTING PUBLICATIONS AT INTERNATIONAL LEVEL

This article discusses the option of publishing print media at the international level as a way to strengthen and develop the modern media sources. Also a variant of its promotion is proposed, which differs from the already functioning options, but at the same time requires significant changes in the organization of the media. As part of the review, questions were examined regarding the complexity of implementing such a project, such as modifying the structure of a publication, cost calculation.

Risk of publication in worthless journals

Implementing research and publishing results is a crucial for a professional development, scientific communication and collaboration of any academicians, scholars, and researchers in science around the world. The timely dissemination of knowledge and scientific information in the global scientific community helps the development of science and worldwide recognition. The researchers working on scientific community cannot appreciate the value of evidence generated without publishing their work in right and quality journals. Therefore, authors should be careful about predatory or fake journals/publishers for communicating their scientific works. The objective of this study is to raise awareness on predatory or fake publishers/journals and of their dishonest publishing practices. In general, the predatory journal publishes without peer review and true editorial board, often publish mediocre or even worthless papers on charging high publication cost, citing fake and non-existing impact factors and mostly focused on private business motives. On the other hand, publishing in a high impact quality journals undoubtedly enhances the future career prospects, communication ability of authors and deliver concise research messages in the scientific field. Researcher of various disciplines and academic experience should aware with the lists of predatory journals/publishers which are available on Beall’s list in internet before publishing any research articles. Therefore, publishing in predatory/fake journals not only spoil or degrade academic reputations but also waste the time, resources and research message too.

20 YEARS OF ANNALS OF KEMU (1995 � 2015)

The Annals of KEMU was first published in 1995, and Prof. Abdul Majeed Ch. was the first editor. I was appointed as editor on 15th May 2007, the responsibility which I will be completing on my retirement on 9th December, 2015. A brief report of Annals of KEMU from 15-05-2007 to 09-12-2015 is stated below for kind information of the authors, reviewers and readers of the Annals. The title of Annals of KEMC was changed to Annals of KEMU, new editorial board was constituted and editorial policy was made and approved on 14th June 2007. According to editorial policy 2007, the editorial process was divided into six (6) steps; 1-Manuscript Submission, 2-Plagiarism Check with Turnitun, 3-review of manuscript by two reviewers, 4-acceptance/rewriting/rejection, 5-publication and 6-circulation. As a result of high quality, the Annals was recognized by PMDC in 2009. The HEC recognized Annals first in category Z and later on raised the category to Y and in July 2015 to highest category X. Annals of KEMU has been indexed with; 1-Pak MediNet (1996), 2-EMRO Indexus of WHO (1997), 3-Directory of Open Access Journals-DOAJ (2007), 4-ICJME Database(2010), 5-PKP Harvester Database, 6-Open J Gate Database (2010), 7-Google Scholar. From June 2007 to November 2015, thirty five (35) issues of Annals of KEMU were published. Five hundred and sixty (560) manuscript were received, four hundred and thirty eight (38) manuscripts were accepted and published, forty three (43) were rejected, and four (04) manuscripts were withdrawn by authors. Until December 2015, seventy five (75) manuscripts are in editorial review process. Total income of the Annals from June 2007 to December 2015 was Rs. 12,52,280/- (Grant from HEC Rs. 6,12,280, collection from authors at rate of Rs. 1,000 for processing each manuscript Rs. 5,60,000 and from advertisements Rs. 80,000. During this period the expenditures of Annals have been Rs. 12,80,215 (publication cost Rs. 11,36,215 and correspondence and circulation Rs 1,44,000). In this way the cost to KEMU treasury has been Rs. 27,935/-. The credit for the achievements of; maintaining good quality (plagiarism below 19% and approval by two reviewers of same specialty), achieving PMDC recognition and highest HEC rank, having Annals indexed with 7 databases and just cost of Rs. 27, 935 to KEMU treasury for publishing of 35 Issues goes to our able editorial board, authors, reviewers and the staff. I take this opportunity to thank all of them, espe-cially the editorial secretaries, Mr. Asim Saeed and Mr. Muhammad Afzal (Assistant Annals of KEMU), who have worked very hard.