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Paying to publish: A cross-sectional analysis of article processing charges and journal characteristics among 87
Landon M Clark1, Dayle K Wang1, Brian D Adkins2
1Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA.
Insights
Pathology journal article processing charges are higher in hybrid models than open access models. Factors like impact factor and publisher influence these fees, while open access and society affiliation may lower them.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical publishing
- Scholarly communication
- Pathology research
Background:
- Article processing charges (APCs) are common for open access publishing.
- APCs can present financial barriers for early career researchers.
- Pathology journal APCs have not been previously quantified.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the article processing charges in pathology journals.
- To identify factors associated with these charges.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of 87 pathology journals listed in Journal Citation Reports.
- Data collected included publication model, impact factor, journal location, publisher, society affiliation, and subscription costs.
- Statistical analysis (bivariate and multivariable) was used to identify associations.
Main Results:
- Most pathology journals (70.1%) are hybrid; 29.9% are open access.
- Median APCs were significantly higher for hybrid journals ($3710) than open access journals ($1735).
- Higher APCs correlated with higher impact factors and institutional subscription costs. Open access, European location (ex-UK), and medical society affiliation correlated with lower APCs.
Conclusions:
- Hybrid pathology journals present higher publication fees than dedicated open access journals.
- Understanding APCs is vital for ensuring equitable opportunities for pathologists in academic publishing.
- Factors such as journal model, impact factor, and publisher significantly influence APCs.
Abstract:
Article processing charges are increasingly being levied on authors via publication fees to provide open access to readers. These charges may impose challenges to early career physicians seeking to publish research but pathology journal article processing charges have not been investigated to date. We aimed to quantify pathology journal article processing charges and investigate the potential associated factors. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of manuscript article processing charges among the 87 pathology journals in the "Pathology" category in Journal Citation Reports (Clarivate) and associated journal variables: publication model (open access vs hybrid), impact factor, year founded, journal location, journal publisher, medical society affiliation, whether the journal is published in print vs online, and subscription cost to institutions. Most (70.1 %, 61/87) journals were hybrid, while 29.9 % (26/87) were open access. Overall, the median cost to publish open access was significantly greater for hybrid journals compared with open access journals ($3710 vs $1735; P<0.0001). Article processing charges positively correlated with impact factor, journal publisher, and institutional journal subscription costs in bivariate analysis. In multivariable analysis, impact factor associated with higher charges, whereas open access journals, medical society affiliation, and location in a European country outside of the United Kingdom were associated with lower charges. There was no significant association between publication frequency, years since journal founding, or print and online publication. Understanding the potential fees that may impact pathologists attempting to publish in the biomedical literature as well as the options for covering these costs is crucial to ensure equitable career advancement opportunities.
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