Knowledge Without Walls: Enago’s comprehensive global survey report on open-access publishing
In the ever-evolving landscape of scholarly communication, the global expansion of open-access (OA) publishing has been a focal point for researchers, institutions, and funders. While the consensus appears to be supportive of OA model, we found a need to assess perceptions about OA publishing and the state of “Pay to Publish” model at a deeper level to unveil crucial observations and specific insights from researchers, institutions, and publishers alike. With this in mind, we had launched our 5th global Research Risk Assessment survey to gauge the current state of OA awareness, attitudes toward Article Processing Charges (APCs), and perceptions about funding opportunities.
One notable revelation from the survey is the persistent lack of awareness about open science and a noticeable reluctance toward its adoption, primarily attributed to the associated financial burden. While the scholarly community widely recognizes open science as the future of scholarly communication, various stakeholders within the research and publishing world remain uninformed or hesitant to embrace it.
The report also addresses concerns about potential negative outcomes associated with the ever-increasing cost of APCs, including geographical inequalities, a possible shift towards subscription-based publishing, and authors opting for lower-quality, predatory journals with lower APCs. Our findings also highlight a major gap in researcher awareness about public and private funding available for payments toward APCs and best practices for applying to such grants.
As the OA publishing model continues to gain popularity, our report emphasizes the importance of exploring the awareness and attitudes of diverse stakeholders and a need for comprehensive education on pathways to OA publishing. The survey’s geographically diverse audience, encompassing different stages of academic research careers, provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities faced by the global research community.
The launch of our survey report is a significant step toward fostering informed discussions and shaping policies that can mitigate the negative impact on authors and institutions. By addressing the challenges posed by OA, APCs, and funding access, the report contributes to the ongoing dialogue aimed at ensuring equitable access to high-quality research in the ever-evolving landscape of scholarly open-access publishing.
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