Awareness and Attitudes about Open Access Publishing: A Glance at Generational Differences

Abstract

INTRODUCTION OA publishing is now solidly established as a publishing model. This study examines current faculty members understanding of and perceptions of OA publishing, focusing on demographic data that divide faculty into categories by age, rank, or years teaching, to understand whether these characteristics correspond to specific perceptions and behaviors. METHODS A web-based survey targeting PhD faculty members at U.S. universities and colleges was distributed, the data was analyzed using SPSS to determine frequencies, significance, and relationships when possible. The open-ended answers were analyzed by grouping and coding items into categories. RESULTS There is a growing trend in self reported knowledge of OA across all age groups, still about 30% of respondents aren’t familiar with OA. The credibility of OA journals is the top issue of concern. Neither rank, nor age, nor years teaching in higher education were statistically significant to predict whether faculty would publish in OA journals. DISCUSSION & CONCLUSIONS Actual OA publishing experience is still relatively conservative. Unlike early studies, the findings from this investigation indicate that factors such as age, rank, or years publishing may no longer be suitable for predicting opinions and actions. More faculty authors may already be engaging in OA publishing activity than previously assumed. Librarians must be open to the idea that supporters and engaged faculty members may come from groups and disciplines not previously considered. While not all faculty researchers may be enthusiastic supporters, there appears to be a general acceptance of the enviable change that is coming.