The Effect of Article Processing Charge-Driven Publishing on Author Credibility and Research Integrity

Abstract

The global research climate has changed as a result of the introduction of Article Processing Charges (APCs) as a primary funding mechanism for open-access publications. Although APCs have facilitated access to and dissemination of scientific knowledge, their abuse has given rise to significant ethical concerns, particularly with regard to authorship credibility and study integrity. The consequences of improperly regulated APC-driven publishing models which encourage unethical writing practices, compromise peer-review standards, and aid in the rise of predatory journals which are severely examined in this article. The repercussions on scientific credibility, academic evaluation systems, and public trust in research are discussed, along with recommendations for re establishing integrity in scholarly publishing.

Keywords: Open Access Publishing; Predatory Journals; Research Integrity; Authorship Ethics; and Article Processing Fees

Citation

Nnodim Johnkennedy. The Effect of Article Processing Charge-Driven Publishing on Author Credibility and Research Integrity. WebLog J Clin Case Rep. wjccr.2026.g1503. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21738699