The troubles of high-profile open access megajournals
The result's identifiers
Result code in IS VaVaI
<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216208%3A11120%2F19%3A43918387" target="_blank" >RIV/00216208:11120/19:43918387 - isvavai.cz</a>
Result on the web
<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-019-03144-6" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-019-03144-6</a>
DOI - Digital Object Identifier
<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11192-019-03144-6" target="_blank" >10.1007/s11192-019-03144-6</a>
Alternative languages
Result language
angličtina
Original language name
The troubles of high-profile open access megajournals
Original language description
The rise in open access journals was followed by the proliferation of open access megajournals, which were once expected to become a major publication platform of the future. We analyzed the bibliometric parameters of 11 megajournals sensu stricto according to the definition by Björk and compared them with three control groups of gold open-access journals that do not satisfy the criteria for megajournals and that do not apply the concept of "sound science", namely the journals published under the PLoS, BMC and Hindawi brands. We show that nonselective megajournals have started to decline in all bibliometric parameters. These journals in particular have lost connection with the most advanced science as revealed by the decreasing citations to and from the top-tier journals. While some megajournals have underperformed on bibliometric parameters from the beginning of their existence, others experienced a short honeymoon period before declining. In contrast, major discipline-specific open-access journals remain competitive, and those published by less prominent publishers have even increased their performance. However, the discipline-specific open-access journals also display decreasing citations to and from the top-tier journals. Concluded, we provided the first evidence that the change in the perception of megajournals is associated with the deterioration of their bibliometric characteristics. The future of megajournals as a major publishing platform is now threatened.
Czech name
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Czech description
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Classification
Type
J<sub>imp</sub> - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database
CEP classification
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OECD FORD branch
50804 - Library science
Result continuities
Project
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Continuities
I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace
Others
Publication year
2019
Confidentiality
S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů
Data specific for result type
Name of the periodical
Scientometrics
ISSN
0138-9130
e-ISSN
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Volume of the periodical
120
Issue of the periodical within the volume
2
Country of publishing house
NL - THE KINGDOM OF THE NETHERLANDS
Number of pages
14
Pages from-to
733-746
UT code for WoS article
000477044700017
EID of the result in the Scopus database
2-s2.0-85067240215