Citation advantage of open access articles

Area of Science:

• Bibliometrics
• Scholarly Communication
• Scientific Publishing

Background:

• Open access (OA) literature aims to enhance research recognition and dissemination, but its impact remains debated.
• The study investigates the citation impact of OA versus non-OA articles within a single, high-impact journal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively assess the citation rates and impact of open access (OA) articles compared to non-OA articles.
• To determine if OA status influences the immediate recognition and dissemination of research findings.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal bibliometric analysis of 1,492 articles published in PNAS between June and December 2004.
• Comparison of citation data at three time points (0-6, 4-10, and 10-16 months post-publication).
• Statistical adjustment for confounding variables using logistic and linear regression models.

Main Results:

• OA articles were significantly less likely to be uncited at all measured time points compared to non-OA articles.
• OA articles received a higher average number of citations than non-OA articles.
• After controlling for confounders, OA articles were more than twice as likely to be cited within 4-10 months and nearly three times as likely within 10-16 months post-publication.

Conclusions:

• Open access articles achieve greater and more immediate recognition and citation by peers.
• OA publication accelerates the dissemination and uptake of research findings, even in journals accessible via libraries.
• Immediate OA publication on journal sites shows higher impact than other forms of OA.