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1 year ago in Open Access Movement By Keerthi Gupta
Do open access articles really get more citations and attention?
My funder requires open access, claiming it increases citations. Is this proven, or is it just a hypothesis? If there is an advantage, how significant is it, and does it apply across all fields?
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By Saleh Alsanie Answered 1 year ago
The open access citation advantage is well-documented, with studies showing a 18-50% increase in citations for OA articles compared to paywalled ones in the same journal. The advantage stems from removing access barriers: anyone can read and cite the work, not just those at wealthy institutions. The effect is strongest in fields with fast-moving literatures (like biology, computer science) and applied social sciences. It's less pronounced in humanities where books are primary. Beyond citations, OA articles also see higher downloads, media mentions, and policy citations. However, correlation isn't causation—higher quality work might be more likely to be made OA. Regardless, the evidence is robust: OA amplifies reach and scholarly impact. It's a key reason funders and institutions mandate it.
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