Knowledge Exchange has now released a brochure in which the differences in outcomes from these various studies on costs and benefits of various journal business models are explained. This briefing paper also looks at the outcomes of the broadly cited RIN study and various national studies performed by John Houghton.
An important difference between the studies is that early studies considered only the costs incurred in publishing traditional journals made available for purchase on a subscription or licensing business model. As the open access business model became available, some studies also covered the cost of making research articles available in open access journals. More recent studies have taken a broader perspective, looking at the position of journal publishers in the market and their business models in the context of the economic benefits from research dissemination.
Dr Wim Liebrand, director of SURF says, “The present debate on Open Access is centred around optimal access, achieving maximum impact at an affordable costs. It is very important to be able to have an objective informed discussion on the real costs and benefits of various journal business models. This concise brochure contributes to this discussion by offering an overview of the various studies on journal business models.”
Posted by
Gavin Baker at 11/09/2009 07:10:00 PM.
The open access movement:
Putting peer-reviewed scientific and scholarly literature
on the internet. Making it available free of charge and
free of most copyright and licensing restrictions.
Removing the barriers to serious research.
