The validity of the Open Access model is constantly being debated when it comes to scientific publishing. Many researchers are still uncertain whether to publish in this model or not. What are then the benefits of publishing in Open Access? We should take a closer look at this question, especially now, when publishing in this model is becoming increasingly popular and accepted by the scientific community.
How can authors benefit from publishing in an Open Access model?
Accessibility and openness. These are some of the major advantages of Open Access. In this model the final receiver of a book or an article does not incur any costs, and the costs related to the publishing process are paid primarily from funds set up by universities, private institutions or governments. In contrast to the traditional model where access to content can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars and when even university libraries find it increasingly difficult to cover the ever-mounting fees, access to publications in OA is free. What does it mean for the authors? First of all, their work can reach a much larger audience and be more widely read and discussed; secondly – the final product is free, and thanks to digital distribution and online promotion, dissemination of scientific knowledge is simplified – both within the scientific community, but also in the wider world.
Impact and citation. These benefits are closely related to accessibility and openness. Availability and distribution via the Internet, as well as the possibility of adding links to the content, gives authors a chance to increase the number of times their paper is cited. The impact of Open Access on citation rate has been examined for many years and thorough analysis is beginning to confirm that this model increases citation. One example is the report – Citation Advantage of Open Access Articles:
“In the crude analysis, the mean number of citations as well as the proportion of articles cited at least once was significantly higher in the OA group in both the April 2005 and the October 2005 analyses, with the relative “risk” for non-OA articles of not being cited increasing over time.”
Very similar are the results presented in Open Access versus subscription journals: a comparison of scientific impact
It is also worth mentioning that according to the report, Ten-year cross-disciplinary comparison of the growth of open access and how it Increases Research Citation impasto of 2005:
“Articles from OA journals were cited anywhere from 36% to 176% more frequently than articles in non-OA journals”
Books and articles published in Open Access can achieve a satisfying number of citations and high impact rate, which is of great importance to research institutions as well as for the career of any researcher.
These benefits of Open Access do not exhaust the opportunities offered by this model. Firstly it goes without saying that, for the author, publishing in OA can be simpler and much more accessible. According to the report Open Access – What are the Economic benefits? (2009), which focuses on the cost of scientific publishing in three countries, publishing in OA is less expensive than traditional publishing (even with APC oscillating between 1000 and 1700 euros per article). This new publishing model is less expensive and is therefore more accessible to authors. Additionally, it is worth noting that by publishing in Open Access, authors automatically offer public access to their articles. This has an undeniable impact on the social dissemination of scientific knowledge, and thus on its evolution.
Openness, impact, citation, lower costs, contribution to society. Open Access can benefit researchers and authors. Therefore, it is worth considering these benefits when choosing a publishing model for scholarly books or articles.