Authorial and institutional stratification in open access publishing: the case of global health research

PeerJ

article

Kyle Siler¹  Stefanie Haustein²  Elise Smith⁴  Vincent Larivière⁴  Juan Pablo Alperin⁵ 

[1] Innovation Studies Group, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University;School of Information Studies, University of Ottawa;Centre Interuniversitaire de Recherche sur la Science et la Technologie ,(CIRST), University of Québec at Montreal;École de bibliothéconomie et des sciences de l’information, University of Montreal;Canadian Institute for Studies in Publishing, Simon Fraser University

关键词: Open access;    Publishing economics;    Libraries;    Global health;    Stratification;    Article processing charges;    Universities;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.4269

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

Using a database of recent articles published in the field of Global Health research, we examine institutional sources of stratification in publishing access outcomes. Traditionally, the focus on inequality in scientific publishing has focused on prestige hierarchies in established print journals. This project examines stratification in contemporary publishing with a particular focus on subscription vs. various Open Access (OA) publishing options. Findings show that authors working at lower-ranked universities are more likely to publish in closed/paywalled outlets, and less likely to choose outlets that involve some sort of Article Processing Charge (APCs; gold or hybrid OA). We also analyze institutional differences and stratification in the APC costs paid in various journals. Authors affiliated with higher-ranked institutions, as well as hospitals and non-profit organizations pay relatively higher APCs for gold and hybrid OA publications. Results suggest that authors affiliated with high-ranked universities and well-funded institutions tend to have more resources to choose pay options with publishing. Our research suggests new professional hierarchies developing in contemporary publishing, where various OA publishing options are becoming increasingly prominent. Just as there is stratification in institutional representation between different types of publishing access, there is also inequality within access types.

【 授权许可】

CC BY