Tuesday, 22 August 2017

Traditional Journals Vs. Open Access: How To Make The Choice?

The society today is increasingly becoming internet-centric. People communicate, share data, connect with one another and even do business over the net. This huge development in the online media has also affected the publishing of academic and scientific research. The scientists prefer to use the online information rather than spending long hours sitting in the library. They do not have to leave their labs and can get instant access to the data required. 

Online open access journals offer contents that are free for the readers and the researchers get charged for publishing their findings. This idea has removed the financial barrier for the readers but the researchers sometimes face a dilemma when they are to choose between the traditional journals and open access ones. When you are to take this decision, consider the following factors, which can be helpful: 

* Visibility: When you take the decision of publishing your article in open access journals, this means that more people can get access to it and thus the number of readers automatically increases. This, in turn, increases downloads of your articles in PDF formats and also helps you to reach the potential collaborators much more easily. Moreover, several educators and the public who cannot afford expensive subscriptions to journals can read through your valuable data.
 
* Prestige: You must check the rankings of the several open access journals before deciding to publish your articles on their portal. Impact Factor (IF) is an essential criterion to check before publishing your articles. Open access journals with high IF offer you greater chances to get promoted and gain tenure. You need to do your research work properly before selecting the platform.

* Cost: Both the open access journals and traditional ones charge a small amount at the submission time in order to cover several costs related to peer review and editorial. The difference between the two arises at the time of charging post-acceptance fees. Traditional journals charge on the basis of per page whereas open access ones have a flat rate. In the case of open access journals, the authors can also apply for a partial or full waiver of the publication fees depending upon their financial status. The huge subscription amounts for the traditional journals can be harmful to both the authors and readers. Thus, it is always wise to opt for the online open access journals, which save you from such heavy costs. There are so many helpful online scientific journals available that are helping students and educators on a daily basis.

* Speed: Many authors consider the speed in publications when it comes to choosing the traditional over open access. Generally, studies have shown that the traditional publication method causes a delay in the release of new data and articles. This particularly has negative effects for patients who are waiting for new therapies. Many of the open access journals offer a rapid process of publication. So, when it comes to urgencies they are the best choice. 

Thus, OA journals are always a good option for the researchers keeping in mind the visibility and other factors of the journal. Moreover, the OA journals are changing the entire scenario of the publishing industry and have taken up a lot place in the market. International open access journals have become the most preferred choice for so many readers and authors in the world. 

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