Scopus & Web of Science Drop ‘TPM Journal’: The 2025 Applied Psychology Purge
Executive Summary
On December 11, 2025, the academic indexing landscape shifted significantly as Scopus and Web of Science officially removed TPM – Testing, Psychometrics, Methodology in Applied Psychology from their databases. Once a respected Q4 niche journal, TPM was flagged for severe “editorial concerns” following a radical shift in publishing behavior.
This article examines the red flags—specifically a suspicious 10x volume increase—that led to its expulsion and offers guidance for affected researchers.
Introduction
For years, TPM was a safe harbor for researchers in applied psychology, publishing approximately 30–40 papers annually. However, in late 2025, the journal’s standing collapsed. Scopus’s algorithms, now increasingly aggressive against “abnormal publishing behavior,” identified TPM as a high-risk outlier.
The specific charges? A sudden explosion in special issues, acceptance of out-of-scope articles, and a degradation of peer review standards. This removal is catastrophic for Ph.D. students who relied on the journal’s indexation.
Key Takeaway: Why Was TPM Delisted?
TPM was removed due to “Editorial Concerns” and “Publication Concerns.” Specifically, the journal exhibited classic signs of a “sold” title: a massive spike in accepted papers, rapid-fire peer review (often under 15 days), and the publication of content unrelated to psychology to maximize revenue.
The Anatomy of a Collapse
The fall of TPM was not an accident; it was a systemic failure of editorial integrity. The primary indicator was a “Mega-Journal” pivot.
1. The Volume Explosion
Until 2024, TPM published a consistent number of papers. In 2025, this number ballooned significantly, prioritizing Article Processing Charges (APCs) over scientific rigor.
2. Editorial Concerns & Review Integrity
Reports indicate that in the months leading up to the delisting, the rigorous peer review process vanished.
- Speed: Review turnaround times dropped from months to mere days (< 2 weeks).
- Quality: Articles drifted into general social sciences or unrelated fields to catch a wider net of paying authors.
3. Metric Degradation
Before its removal, TPM struggled to maintain high-impact metrics, making it vulnerable to aggressive monetization.
- Impact Factor (2024): ~0.7
- SJR (2020): 0.35–0.37
- Scopus Quartile: Q4 (General Applied Psychology)
Critical Discussion: The “Hijacked Journal” Phenomenon
The fate of TPM highlights the “Zombie Journal” threat. This occurs when a legitimate, low-tier journal is sold to a new publisher. The new owners burn through the journal’s accumulated prestige (its “trust battery”) by accepting everything for a fee until the indexers catch on.
The victims are authors who submitted early in 2025 believing the journal was safe. Their papers are now “orphaned”—visible on the web but invisible to the databases that matter for academic credit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is my paper in TPM still valid for my PhD?
If your university requires Scopus/WoS indexation, likely not. Papers published in the late 2025 “purge” volumes are often retroactively removed.
Can I withdraw my paper and submit it elsewhere?
If not yet published online, withdraw immediately. If published, you cannot republish without a formal retraction, which predatory journals rarely grant.
How can I check if a journal is safe in 2026?
Do not rely on the journal’s website. Check the Scopus “Source” list (updated monthly) and look for “Content Coverage” drop-offs.
Future Outlook
The removal of TPM is final. Scopus rarely reverses discontinuation decisions for journals flagged for editorial misconduct. Advice for 2026: Avoid any journal that promises publication in under 30 days or has seen a sudden distinct spike in publication volume.