Journal assessment checklist

Use this sequence

1. Identity: record title, ISSN, publisher, domain, country and title history.
2. Provenance: verify indexing and DOI records at the source, not through screenshots.
3. Editorial conduct: inspect peer-review claims, editorial board traceability, corrections and retractions.
4. Commercial transparency: record APCs, waivers, refund rules and payment timing.
5. Decision: classify the evidence as verified, unresolved or contradictory; never reduce the decision to one badge.

Printable checklist

This checklist supports documented judgement; it does not certify a journal or replace institutional policy.