Should I Publish in an Open Access Journal?

Open Access (OA) publications reduce permission requirements and eliminate price barriers for readers. OA allows access for researchers, teachers, journalists, policy makers and the general public without a subscription. Many studies demonstrate that OA literature receives more citations than subscription publications. Below are factors to consider when deciding to publish in, or be an editor for, an open access journal.Does the journal meet open access standards?As with subscription journals, the quality of OA journals can vary widely. Consider whether the journal is included in the Directory of Open Access Journals, an authoritative list of OA journals. DOAJ journals must exercise peer review or editorial quality control. You can also see if the journal is a member of the Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association. Membership requires a thorough screening process based on the OASPA code of conduct for OA journals.Is the publisher reputable?Jeffrey Beall, a librarian at the Universi...