Getting cited: Does open access help?

Patrick Gaulé, Nicolas Maystre

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

86 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Abstract: Cross-sectional studies typically find positive correlations between free availability of scientific articles ('open access') and citations. Using a number of instruments as plausible sources of exogeneous variation, we find no evidence for a causal effect of open access on citations. We provide theory and evidence suggesting that authors of higher quality papers are more likely to choose open access in hybrid journals which offer an open access option. Self-selection mechanisms may thus explain the discrepancy between the positive correlation found in Eysenbach (2006) and other cross-sectional studies and the absence of such correlation in the field experiment of Davis et al. (2008).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1332-1338
Number of pages7
JournalResearch Policy
Volume40
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2011

Keywords

  • Citations
  • Knowledge diffusion
  • Open access
  • Scientific publishing
  • Self-selection

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Engineering
  • Strategy and Management
  • Management Science and Operations Research
  • Management of Technology and Innovation

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