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Open Access Publication
What is Open Access? –
Open Access refers to the practice of providing free and unrestricted access to scholarly research literature online. It allows anyone with an internet connection to read, download, copy, distribute, and use research articles without any financial or legal barriers.
Why is Open Access important? –
Open Access promotes the dissemination of knowledge by removing barriers that restrict access to research. It allows researchers, students, policymakers, and the public to access and benefit from scholarly information, fostering innovation, collaboration, and scientific progress.
How does Open Access differ from traditional publishing? –
Traditional publishing usually involves journal subscriptions or pay-per-view fees, which restrict access to published research. Open Access, on the other hand, makes research freely available, enabling a wider audience to read and use the findings without financial barriers.
What is the difference between “free” and “open” articles? –
The terms “free” and “open” are often used interchangeably when discussing articles, but they have distinct meanings in the context of scholarly publishing:
Free Articles:
Free articles refer to content that is accessible to readers without any cost. These articles can be accessed and read without requiring a subscription or payment. They are made freely available online, allowing anyone to read, download, and share the content without financial barriers. Free articles are typically funded by institutions, organizations, or grants, and they aim to promote widespread access to knowledge.
Open Articles:
Open articles, on the other hand, go beyond being freely accessible and include additional permissions and rights. Open articles are typically published under a Creative Commons license or a similar open licensing framework. These licenses provide users with more extensive rights, allowing them not only to read and download the content but also to reuse, remix, redistribute, and build upon the material, as long as proper attribution is given to the original source. Open articles enable broader engagement, collaboration, and innovation within the research community.
What are the different types of Open Access? –
There are two main types of Open Access:
- Green Open Access: Researchers self-archive their work in an institutional or subject-based repository, making it freely accessible after a certain embargo period.
- Gold Open Access: Authors publish their work in an Open Access journal, making it immediately available to the public without any restrictions.
Are all Open Access articles free to read and download? –
Yes, Open Access articles are generally free to read and download. However, some Open Access journals may charge article processing charges (APCs) to cover publication costs. These charges are usually paid by the author or their funding institution.
What are the benefits of publishing in Open Access Journals? –
Publishing in Open Access journals increases the visibility and impact of research. It can lead to higher citation rates, broader readership, and increased opportunities for collaboration. Open Access publications are also more likely to be shared and cited on social media and other platforms.
How will readers know which articles are available via Open Access? –
Open Access articles will be explicitly labeled, ensuring that users are promptly informed when an article is published under an Open Access model.
Is it beneficial to publish research papers in Open Access Journals? –
Publishing a research paper in an Open Access Journal is advantageous for authors as it enhances the visibility of their work. Opting for an Open Access Journal means that a larger audience will have the opportunity to access the paper, increasing its potential reach and impact.
Are both Journals and Special Issues Open Access? –
No, currently, the Journals have a hybrid open access model, whereas the special issues are fully open access.
How can researchers fund Open Access publication fees? –
Researchers can secure funding for Open Access publication fees from various sources, including research grants, funding agencies, academic institutions, and libraries. Some institutions also have dedicated Open Access funds or agreements with publishers to cover the costs.
Does Open Access compromise the quality of research? –
No, Open Access does not compromise the quality of research. Open Access journals follow rigorous peer-review processes to ensure the scholarly integrity and reliability of published articles. Many Open Access journals are reputable and adhere to established publishing standards.
Can Open Access articles be copyrighted? –
Yes, Open Access articles can be copyrighted. Authors retain copyright to their work even when publishing in Open Access journals. However, Open Access licenses, such as Creative Commons licenses, are often used to grant permissions for others to use, distribute, and build upon the research while giving credit to the original authors.
Is all research eligible for Open Access? –
Open Access is applicable to various types of research, including scientific, technical, medical, social sciences, humanities, and more. However, some types of research, such as sensitive or classified information, may have restrictions on immediate Open Access publication.
Can I use Open Access articles for commercial purposes? –
The permissions granted by Open Access licenses vary, but many licenses, such as Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY), allow for commercial use. However, it is important to check the specific license terms associated with the Open Access article before using it for commercial purposes.
Are there any Open Access repositories or platforms to find research articles? –
Yes, there are several Open Access repositories and platforms where you can find research articles, such as PubMed Central, arXiv, DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals), and institutional repositories of universities and research institutions.
How can I identify Open Access articles during my research? –
Many databases and search engines provide filters or advanced search options to specifically look for Open Access content. You can also use the DOAJ website or consult library resources to find Open Access articles in your field of interest.
Can Open Access articles be peer-reviewed? –
Yes, Open Access articles undergo peer review just like articles published in traditional subscription-based journals. Peer review ensures the quality and validity of the research before it is published, regardless of the access model.
What is the Open Access movement? –
The Open Access movement is a global initiative advocating for the free and open availability of scholarly research. It aims to challenge the traditional publishing model and promote the principles of accessibility, transparency, and collaboration in the dissemination of knowledge.
Is it possible to make my article Open Access after it has already been published under subscription control? –
Yes, it is possible to make your article open access even if it has initially been published under a subscription-based model. This can be done through a process known as self-archiving or by utilizing the rights granted by the publisher. Self-archiving involves depositing a version of your article, such as the preprint or postprint, in an institutional or subject-based repository, making it freely accessible to the public. Many publishers allow self-archiving with certain conditions, such as an embargo period before the article becomes openly available. It is important to check the specific policies of the publisher regarding self-archiving and open access to ensure compliance. Additionally, some publishers offer options to convert an article to open access retrospectively, either by paying an article processing charge (APC) or through other arrangements. It is advisable to contact the publisher or refer to their website for information on available options to make your article open access.
When will I be given the choice to pay a publication charge that will enable my paper to be freely available online? –
Upon acceptance of your paper you will be required to sign a license/consent form to publish online. As part of this process you will be asked to indicate whether you would like to publish your article under an open access license and pay the associated charge.
How will you ensure that the payment for publication charges by authors has no influence on whether an article is accepted for publication? –
All manuscripts submitted to journals that offer an open access option will continue to be subject to the same rigorous process of editorial consideration and peer review, thereby ensuring that the high standards the community has come to expect from the journal are maintained. In hybrid access journals, the editors of the journal will not be involved in correspondence with authors regarding payment of open access charges for their article. Instead, the author charge system will be administered by the publisher, OUP, only after manuscripts have been accepted for publication. In this way authors should be reassured that their ability to pay publication charges will not influence editorial decisions.
What is the difference between “Free content” and “Open access” content? –
Free content usually consists of editorial material such as tables of contents, covers, advertisements, etc. These contents are not supported by article processing fees.
Open access content is technical in nature, peer reviewed, supported by article processing fees, and available to all.
What do the terms “green” and “gold” open access refer to? –
Green” open access” refers to the practice of depositing a version of an article in a repository. Usually, that article version is freely accessible to the public. For example, if an author posts the accepted version of his or her NIH-funded article to PubMed Central, that article is said to be available through green open access.
It allows authors to post the accepted (not final) version of their article to their website, employer’s website, or a repository specified by their funding agency. Authors may obtain the accepted version of their article.
“Gold” open access refers to articles that are freely available in their final form. Most gold open access articles are supported by article processing charges (APCs), rather than through subscriptions. APCs may be paid by the author, the author’s institution, or a funding agency.
Why should authors publish Open access journals? –
It supports all authors and readers globally. That means being able to offer any author a publication venue that is compliant with their circumstances, regardless of their funding status, the publishing mandates they may have in place, or where in the world they may work.
An author may choose to publish in a traditional journal or in a fully open access journal.
There are many benefits of publishing scholarly research. Some reasons why some authors may choose to publish their research through open access depend on the unique circumstances and goals of the individual author. These reasons could include:
- Get Published More Quickly –Open access titles follow a rapid yet rigorous peer review process, enabling authors to accelerate the sharing of their work to a broad audience. with the capability to get published in a matter of weeks with select fully open access titles.
- Share Your Latest Research with a Wide Audience – Increase exposure and quickly reach millions of global users through the free access to research available immediately to all users.
- Satisfy OA Publishing Requirements – Authors using government research funding or university consortium funding may be required to publish in OA journals. Many institutions also encourage their authors to publish OA, and some provide funds to help authors do so.
- Multidisciplinary Research Scope – A topic that is inclusive of multiple technologies may be considered out of scope for some journals but might be perfect for a multidisciplinary title.
How does Author select open access? –
Our author support team remains contactable via query portal or via the email address authors receive when their paper is accepted for publication. The team is responding to all authors on the same or next working day as usual. Please contact us by email or the query portal in the first instance.
How do I contact Author Support? –
Our author support team remains contactable via the query portal or via the email address authors receive when their paper is accepted for publication. The team is responding to all authors on the same or next working day as usual. Please contact us by email or the query portal in the first instance.
What is publication misconduct? –
Publication misconduct includes plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, inappropriate authorship, duplicate submission/multiple submissions, overlapping publication, and salami publication.
How does open access affect research and knowledge? –
Scientific research shows that publishing in open access, because of the worldwide visibility without barriers, demonstrably leads to more citations and more impact. Businesses also have broad access to the most recent scientific ideas, which they can then build upon.
What is a DOI? –
The DOI (digital object identifier) is a string of characters which together uniquely identify a published article. The DOI is permanently assigned to an article, and provides a persistent link to current information about that article, including where the article, or information about it, can be found on the Internet. It enables readers to find the article on the Internet irrespective of any subsequent changes in the website structure, in the management responsibility of the journal in which it was first published, or the location of the website on which the journal is hosted.
For more information about DOIs, see www.doi.org or www.crossref.org.
Can I create a web address to my paper using the DOI? –
To convert a DOI to a web address you need to add a prefix to the DOI. For papers published on STM use the url prefix http://dx.doi.org/
For example, assuming your paper has DOI as follows:
doi:10.1017/S1368980008002541
Your web address will then be:
http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1017/S1368980008002541
You can use the url string within any documents you write, or you can simply copy and paste it into your browser.
The url will lead to the page where your paper is published on STM