scholarly journals Three new suggested guidelines for increased transparency regarding open access article processing charges (APCs)

2020 ◽  
pp. 4
Author(s):  
Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva
Keyword(s):  
Open Access ◽  
Business Model ◽  
Article Processing Charge ◽  
Wide Debate ◽  
Financial Transparency ◽  
Article Processing Charges ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Gold Open Access ◽  
Open Access Article

The article processing charge (APC) lies at the heart of the gold open access (GOA) business model. Small and larger society-based, as well as commercial publishers, rely – to different extents – on the APC and the GOA model to thrive. There is wide debate regarding what amount of APC is considered to be exploitative, and the issue of low APCs is often erroneously associated with “predatory” OA publishing. Independent of this debate, there is still, surprisingly, considerable opacity related to the APC used to cover the cost of  GOA. In a bid to increase transparency, a simple 3-point plan at increasing academic and financial transparency of authors and journals/publishers regarding APCs is proposed: 1) indicate which author paid the APC in multi-author papers; 2) indicate the value of the APC paid; 3) provide online proof or certification of APC payment, including the indication of any discounts or waivers.

scholarly journals The cost-effectiveness of the article-processing-charge-funded model across countries in different scientific blocks: the case of Elsevier's hybrid open access journals

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zohreh Estakhr ◽  
Hajar Sotudeh ◽  
Javad Abbaspour ◽  
◽  
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Open Access ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Scientific Development ◽  
Article Processing Charge ◽  
Publishing Article ◽  
Open Access Journals ◽  
Article Processing Charges ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Citation Advantage

Introduction. The present study investigated the cost-effectiveness of article-processing-charge-funded model across the world countries in terms of its citation value proportional to the article processing charges. Method. Using a comparative citation analysis method at the macro level, it explored a sample of articles in forty-seven Elsevier hybrid open access journals that had been following the model since 2007. Analysis. The contributing countries' open access citation advantages were calculated based on the percentage of their open access citation surplus proportional to that of their non-open access articles. Their relative open access citation cost-effectiveness was obtained based on their open access citation counts proportional to the article processing charges, normalised by those of non-open access papers. The countries were categorised into four scientific blocks using Rand's categorization of countries' scientific development. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data in SPSS. Results. The results supported the citation advantage of the article-processing-charge-funded papers, encompassing the majority of the contributing countries in the four scientific development blocks. The articles showed relative cost-effectiveness over the years and for most countries in all the scientific development blocks. Conclusions. Publishing article-processing-charge-funded papers is relatively cost-effective, implying higher visibility and influence in exchange for the money paid.

scholarly journals Article processing charges for open access publication—the situation for research intensive universities in the USA and Canada

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2264 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Solomon ◽  
Bo-Christer Björk
Keyword(s):  
Open Access ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Social Sciences And Humanities ◽  
European Universities ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Western European ◽  
Article Processing Charges ◽  
The Cost

Background.Open access (OA) publishing via article processing charges (APCs) is growing as an alternative to subscription publishing. The Pay It Forward (PIF) Project is exploring the feasibility of transitioning from paying subscriptions to funding APCs for faculty at research intensive universities. Estimating of the cost of APCs for the journals authors at research intensive universities tend to publish is essential for the PIF project and similar initiatives. This paper presents our research into this question.Methods.We identified APC prices for publications by authors at the 4 research intensive United States (US) and Canadian universities involved in the study. We also obtained APC payment records from several Western European universities and funding agencies. Both data sets were merged with Web of Science (WoS) metadata. We calculated the average APCs for articles and proceedings in 13 discipline categories published by researchers at research intensive universities. We also identified 41 journals published by traditionally subscription publishers which have recently converted to APC funded OA and recorded the APCs they charge.Results.We identified 7,629 payment records from the 4 European APC payment databases and 14,356 OA articles authored by PIF partner university faculty for which we had listed APC prices. APCs for full OA journals published by PIF authors averaged 1,775 USD; full OA journal APCs paid by Western European funders averaged 1,865 USD; hybrid APCs paid by Western European funders averaged 2,887 USD. The APC for converted journals published by major subscription publishers averaged 1,825 USD. APC funded OA is concentrated in the life and basic sciences. APCs funded articles in the social sciences and humanities are often multidisciplinary and published in journals such as PLOS ONE that largely publish in the life sciences.Conclusions.Full OA journal APCs average a little under 2,000 USD while hybrid articles average about 3,000 USD for publications by researchers at research intensive universities. There is a lack of information on discipline differences in APCs due to the concentration of APC funded publications in a few fields and the multidisciplinary nature of research.

The Cost of Publishing

2019 ◽  
pp. 164-171
Author(s):  
Michael Hochberg
Keyword(s):  
Open Access ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Scientific Publication ◽  
Academic Society ◽  
Major Shift ◽  
Article Processing Charges ◽  
The Cost

The cost of publishing is hotly debated. Until the 1990s, publication was either free of charge, paid per page or per article, or covered partially or completely if subscribing to a journal or if a member of the academic society overseeing a journal. A major shift occurred in the early 2000s when new “Open Access” publishers made articles freely available for all to read and reuse, with article processing charges being covered by the author. This chapter discusses the paradigm shift and how it has changed the landscape of who pays for scientific publication.

The Promotion and Placement of Scholarly Journals

2020 ◽  
pp. 56-95
Author(s):  
Albert N. Greco
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Open Access ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Direct Mail ◽  
Scholarly Journals ◽  
Funding Policies ◽  
The Us ◽  
Use Of Social Media ◽  
Article Processing Charges ◽  
Open Access Article

Since at least the 1980s, there have been significant changes in the marketing of scholarly journals utilized by the majority of scholarly publishers. This shift meant that traditional advertising (which was very effective for many decades) and direct mail pieces (which were rather ineffective because of 1.5% to 2.0% response rates) were de-emphasized but not eliminated completely. They were supplanted somewhat by the growing use of social media and emails. This chapter provides an overview of print and digital journal distribution strategies, procedures, and platforms. Attention is paid to the US and global journal markets and subscriptions, including data on library expenditures. A sample journal’s contract with an author is presented and analyzed. There is a discussion of Sci-Hub, open access, article processing charges, the development of Plan S and Plan U, and research funding policies.

scholarly journals Open Access Routes Dichotomy and Opportunities: Consolidation, Analysis and Trends at the Spanish National Research Council

Publications ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
Mercedes Baquero-Arribas ◽  
Luis Dorado ◽  
Isabel Bernal
Keyword(s):  
Open Access ◽  
Research Council ◽  
Public Information ◽  
National Research Council ◽  
Open Access Publishing ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Impact Monitoring ◽  
Development Tool ◽  
Article Processing Charges ◽  
Gold Open Access

This article gives a comprehensive overview of recent Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) publications available in Open Access. With a focus on research articles from the last decade (2008–2018), this work aims to fill the gap in previous studies about publishing trends and impact monitoring of publications by researchers from the Spanish National Research Council. Evolution and main trends of Green and Gold Open Access routes at CSIC are addressed through a close insight into DIGITAL.CSIC repository and institutional Open Access Publishing Support Programme. The article draws on major conclusions at a time when an institutional Open Access mandate has just entered into force. The article also relates findings about performance of institutional Open Access Publishing Initiative and total volume of CSIC articles published in Open Access with an estimation of overall costs on article processing charges during these years. Furthermore, the data serve as a basis to make preliminary considerations as to opportunities to move from a subscription-based model to one fully aligned with Gold Open Access publishing. The data analyzed come from a variety of sources, including public information and internal records maintained by the CSIC E-resources Subscription programme, DIGITAL.CSIC and data retrieved from GesBIB, an internal, in-house development tool that integrates bibliographic information about CSIC publications as well as data from several external APIs, including Unpaywall, DOAJ and Sherpa Romeo.

scholarly journals Open Access Article Processing Charges: DOAJ Survey May 2014

Publications ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Morrison ◽  
Jihane Salhab ◽  
Alexis Calvé-Genest ◽  
Tony Horava
Keyword(s):  
Open Access ◽  
Article Processing Charges ◽  
Open Access Article

scholarly journals Gold Open Access Journal Focused on Head and Neck Surgery: Analysis of Business Model and Level of Article Processing Charges during the First 31 Months of Publishing

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (8) ◽  
pp. 202-212
Keyword(s):  
Open Access ◽  
Business Model ◽  
Neck Surgery ◽  
Profit Margin ◽  
Entire Study ◽  
Publication History ◽  
Gold Open Access ◽  
Head Neck Surgery ◽  
Head Neck

Purpose: The goal of this retrospective study was 1) to analyze the results of a gold open access (OA) business model on the example of 31-month-old journal Otolaryngology Case Reports (OCR) related with head neck surgery and 2) to understand ‘pro and contra’ of this business model. Materials and Methods: Editorial board, publication history, indexation, and assumed revenue/profit margin were scrupulously investigated. We analyzed the data of articles` portfolio (which included 117 papers) of a gold OA journal focused on head neck surgery, the official journal’s and publisher`s website pages. The publication is analyzed from the first to the eleventh volume. Results: The entire study showed that during 2 years and 7 months of OCR existence totally 117 case report articles have been published. The assumed revenue reached 83,550 US dollars (mean revenue, USD 2,695.16 per month) and profit margin is 30,913.50 US dollars (a 37% profit margin was used upon calculation, as the official data reported by Elsevier`s for its OA products). The editorial board, abstracting and indexation are analyzed, and the 31-month publication history compared with a 33-month history of another gold OA journal Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Cases. Conclusions about 31-month OCR publishing results are presented.

scholarly journals APCs – How much should they cost?

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Markie
Keyword(s):  
Open Access ◽  
Indirect Costs ◽  
Press Release ◽  
Landscape Analysis ◽  
New Work ◽  
Direct And Indirect Costs ◽  
Article Processing Charge ◽  
Open Access Publication ◽  
Publishing Services ◽  
Gold Open Access

Gold Open Access can be facilitated by an Article Processing Charge (APC), which refers to the author-facing charge levied for publishing an article openly in a specific journal. These charges vary significantly across journals and recently there has been a demand for publishers to be more transparent about how their APCs are calculated. Plan S has clearly set the need for transparency in its principles and implementations stating “When Open Access publication fees are applied, they must be commensurate with the publication services delivered and the structure of such fees must be transparent to inform the market and funders potential standardisation and capping of payments of fees”. This presentation will provide a landscape analysis of publishers, new initiatives (such as the new work just commissioned by the Wellcome and UKRI on behalf of cOAlition S on providing a framework to enable more transparent communication of OA publishing services and prices; http://www.informationpower.co.uk/news/press-release-transparent-comms-of-oa-services-and-prices/) and the current transparency around APCs and explore the range of direct and indirect costs of what constitutes an APC.

scholarly journals The Potential of a Cost-Per-Use Analysis to Assess the Value of Library Open-Access Funds

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 99-101
Author(s):  
Jessica Koos
Keyword(s):  
Open Access ◽  
Biomed Central ◽  
Journal Articles ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Article Usage ◽  
Article Processing Charges ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Design Cost ◽  
The Impact

A Review of: Hampson, C., & Stregger, E. (2017). Measuring cost per use of library-funded open access article processing charges: Examination and implications of one method. Journal of Librarianship & Scholarly Communication, 5(1), eP2182. https://doi.org/10.7710/2162-3309.2182 Abstract Objective – To determine the feasibility and potential effects of a cost-per-use analysis of library funds dedicated to open access. Design – Cost-per-use analysis, case study. Setting – PLOS and BioMed Central. Subjects – 591 articles published in PLOS ONE, 165 articles published in PLOS Biology, and 17 articles published in BioMed Central. Methods – Three specific examples are provided of how academic libraries can employ a cost-per-use analysis in order to determine the impact of library-based open access (OA) funds. This method is modeled after the traditional cost-per-use method of analyzing a library collection, and facilitates comparison to other non-OA items. The first example consisted of using a formula dividing the total library-funded article processing charges (APCs) by the total global use of the specific PLOS journal articles that were funded. The second and third examples demonstrated what a library-funded OA membership to BioMed Central would cost alone, and then with APCs that cost could be divided by the total usage of the funded articles to determine cost-per-use. Main Results – The authors found both of the examples described in the article to be potential ways of determining cost-per-use of OA articles, with some limitations. For instance, counting article usage through the publisher’s website may not capture the true usage of an article, as it does not take altmetrics into consideration. In addition, article-level data is not always readily available. In addition, the cost-per-use of OA articles was found to be very low, ranging from $0.01 to $1.51 after the first three years of publication based on the cost of library-funded APCs. The second and third methods revealed a cost-per-use of $0.10 using membership-only payments, while using the cost of membership plus APCs resulted in a cost-per-use of $0.41. Conclusion – Libraries may wish to consider using these methods for demonstrating the value of OA funds in terms of return on investment, as these techniques allow for direct comparison to the usage of traditional journals. However, several barriers need to be overcome in how article-level usage is obtained in order for these methods to be more accurate and efficient. In addition, while the authors report that "The specific examples in this study suggest that OA APCs may compare favorably to traditional publishing when considering value for money based on cost per use," they also caution that the study was not designed to answer the question if the ROI is greater for OA publications than for traditional articles, stating that "...the data in this study should not be interpreted as a verification of such an argument, as this study was not designed to answer that question, nor can it do so given the limitations on the data. This paper was designed to present and illustrate a method. Further study would be necessary to verify or refute this possibility" (p. 15).

Author Choice of Journal Type Based on Income Level of Country

2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-34
Author(s):  
Sumiko Asai
Keyword(s):  
Open Access ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Income Level ◽  
Open Access Journal ◽  
Low Income Countries ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Article Processing Charges ◽  
Gold Open Access

Readers can access open access articles for free, but authors or research funders pay article-processing charges to publish them. This requirement may deter authors in low-income countries from publishing in open access. This study investigates the choices that authors make among three types of open access journal and closed (subscription) journals in history, economics, science, and technology based on their countries’ income level. The sample comprises research articles published in journals in English in 2020 and indexed in Scopus. The results show that authors in low-income countries publish more in gold open access than do authors in lower-middle- and upper-middle-income countries, who tend not to publish in hybrid open access and to favour closed journals. Authors from high-income countries publish more in hybrid open access than do authors in the other groups of countries. Although major publishers waive their article-processing charges for authors in low-income countries, these authors amount to less than 1 per cent of the total. Improving the effectiveness of publishers’ waiver policies is necessary.

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