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Have the "mega-journals" reached the limits to growth?
1Hanken School of Economics, Department of Management and Organisation , Helsinki , Finland.
Peerj
|June 4, 2015
Summary
Mega-journals, offering open-access scientific articles, have seen rapid growth since 2010. While growth has slowed, these journals maintain 50-70% acceptance rates and quick publication times.
Area of Science:
- Scholarly publishing
- Bibliometrics
- Open science
Background:
- Mega-journals have emerged as a significant model in scientific publishing.
- Their rise is exemplified by the success of PLOS ONE and subsequent similar ventures.
- This study examines the development and characteristics of mega-journals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the evolution of mega-journals from 2010 onwards.
- To quantify publication rates and growth trends in the mega-journal sector.
- To identify common features and operational metrics of mega-journals.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of article publication rates across 14 major mega-journals.
- Examination of acceptance rates and publication speed.
- Identification of common editorial policies and features.
Main Results:
- The combined annual article output for 14 mega-journals has stabilized around 35,000 articles.
- Mega-journals exhibit acceptance rates between 50-70%.
- Typical publication turnaround time ranges from 3 to 5 months.
Conclusions:
- Mega-journal growth, while substantial, appears to have plateaued.
- Key features include open access, peer review for trustworthiness, and reader-driven importance assessment.
- Common characteristics include alternative metrics, data reusability, and post-publication discussion platforms.
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