In a recent survey conducted by Wiley, it was revealed that researchers are increasingly inclined towards open access publishing, with a remarkable 75% of respondents, who have published research articles in the last three years, opting for open access. This figure represents a significant surge from 44% just two years ago.
The survey, encompassing the input of over 600 scholars across 97 countries, brings to light several key insights. A growing trend towards embracing open access was evident. Nearly three-quarters (75%) of respondents found transformative agreements (TAs) a suitable means to make research findings more openly accessible. It was found the research community is not solely fixated on open access publishing. Over half of the participants actively engage in various open research practices, including open data, open peer review, and self-archiving. This broad acceptance demonstrates a commitment to building a fully open research landscape.
When asked about their motivations for engaging in open access publishing, respondents highlighted the benefits -"Visibility and impact" (65%) and "public benefit" (54%) were cited as primary drivers, overshadowing journal or institutional requirements.
The survey underlined the funding barriers faced by researchers. A staggering 58% reported that lack of funds posed a significant obstacle to open-access publishing. The survey further revealed that 77% of respondents were more inclined to publish open access if their Article Processing Charges (APCs) were covered by their funder or institution.
Wiley has intensified its dedication to open access, with a substantial increase in open-access articles published in 2022 compared to the previous year. The survey, conducted from March 13 to April 24, 2023, gleaned insights from 625 researchers who published with Wiley in the last three years, offering a well-balanced representation across various subject areas and global geographies.
The findings underscore the increasing favorability of open-access publishing among researchers and the persisting challenges, particularly concerning funding barriers, that need to be addressed to further enable an open research environment.
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