Open access journal publishing: the views of some of the world's senior authors
Abstract
Purpose
The main aims of the survey were to determine: the volume of open access (OA) publishing; what the attitudes of authors to publishing in OA journals were; and what authors felt were the implications of OA publishing.
Design/methodology/approach
The questionnaire survey was administered on behalf of Ciber by NOP and the sample derived from mailing lists supplied by the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI®). Nearly, 4,000 authors responded.
Findings
The detailed results of a major survey of the views and experiences of nearly 4,000 senior authors in regard to OA publishing. A number of statistical analyses were employed to drill down into the data to obtain an understanding of the figures. Views were divided sharply along subject and geographical lines, demonstrating the need to survey large and robust samples of authors.
Research limitations/implications
A snapshot study which while providing robust data requires a follow‐up study to monitor opinion shifts in this fast‐changing area.
Practical implications
Highlights the knowledge gap that exists between authors and publishers.
Originality/value
One of the biggest, if not the biggest, author survey conducted into scholarly publishing and OA publishing.
Keywords
Citation
Nicholas, D., Huntington, P. and Rowlands, I. (2005), "Open access journal publishing: the views of some of the world's senior authors", Journal of Documentation, Vol. 61 No. 4, pp. 497-519. https://doi.org/10.1108/00220410510607499
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2005, Emerald Group Publishing Limited