OPEN ACCESSADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

Image retrieved from: https://www.griffith.edu.au/library/open-access

1)

Advantage: More people are likely to read ito Its more discoverable onlineoMore readers can ultimately lead to more citations

Disadvantage: Encourages journals to publish more articles but of a lower qualityo Because journals have to cover their costs, some people argue that

in publishing more free access articles, they publish more to compensate not receiving fees

2)

Advantage: Free for allo No fees for an individual article or journal subscription for readers, libraries,

institutions etc.

Disadvantage: Publication feeso Even though the reader doesn't’t need to pay, someone else doeso Often this will be the author or publication grant, which can therefore

discourage the researcher from going open access

3)

Advantage: Access for researchers in developing countrieso The opportunity for researchers from these countries to be involved in

international research communities onlineo Some open access publishers, lower their subscription fees for such countries

Disadvantage: Sustainability - are publishers paid enough?o Does open access have the ability to sustainably support publishers in the long

term?

SUMMARY OF ADVANTAGES OF OPEN ACCESS

(Kingsley and Brown, 2015)

WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACTS OF OPEN ACCESS FOR EDUCATION?• Open Access is also often seen as a solution to the 'serials crisis,' a situation where many

libraries have been forced to cut journal subscriptions because of price increases. • Open access is argued to be economically unstainable• Open Access does not allow for sufficient investment in technology. Publishers who generate

profits by making readers pay for their articles, generate sufficient money that can be reinvested into new technologies.

• The income lost by selling subscriptions is difficult to replace. Often the only way is to increase membership fees.

• (Worlock, 2004)

REFERENCES

• Geib, A. (2013) ‘Advantages and Disadvantages of Open Access’ https://www.edanzediting.com/blogs/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-open-access [Accessed 3/5/16]

• Worlock, K. (2004) ‘The Pro’s and Con’s of Open Access’ Nature. http://www.nature.com/nature/focus/accessdebate/34.html [Accessed 3/5/16]

• Kingsley D, Brown S. (2015) What are the benefits of open access? Australian Open Access Support Group. Available from: http://aoasg.org.au/ [Accessed 3/5/2016].