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Editorial

Non-Open Access and Its Adverse Impact on International Journal of Molecular Sciences

by
Shu-Kun Lin
Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI), Matthaeusstrasse 11, Basel CH-4057,Switzerland
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2007, 8(7), 686-687; https://doi.org/10.3390/i8070686
Submission received: 10 July 2007 / Published: 16 July 2007
Versions Notes
In 2005 and 2006 papers were published in MDPI journals in both non-Open Access (non-OA) and Open Access (OA) form [1,2]. In 2005, 11 papers (just under 50% of the total) were published in the password protected (non-Open Access) area of International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Not unexpectedly, this reduced number of Open Access papers had a significant influence on the impact factor of International Journal of Molecular Sciences, which was reduced from 1.467 in 2005 to 0.679 in 2006. According to the methods used in calculating impact factors, the number of papers published in 2005 and the number of citations were used in the calculation of the 2006 impact factor. The statistical data for non-OA and OA papers are presented in Table 1.
Similar to the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, in 2005 another MDPI journal, Molecules, also published a significant percentage of papers in its password protected (non-Open Access) area. The impact factor of this journal was also reduced from 1.113 in 2005 to 0.841 in 2006. The statistical data for non-OA and OA papers are presented in Table 2.
As shown in Tables 1 and 2, the non-Open Access papers and their obviously lower citation numbers appear to be the main reason behind the reduced impact factors of these two journals, where almost half of the papers published were in non-OA form.
As a contrast, the MDPI journal Sensors ( http://www.mdpi.org/sensors/) published only a very small number of non-Open Access papers in 2005, and its impact factor increased slightly from 1.208 in 2005 to 1.373 in 2006.
Since April 2007, we have granted full Open Access to all the papers published in all MDPI journals in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, we have published papers exclusively in Open Access form. We expect this will be reflected in an increase in impact factors come the next evaluation.
As always, we welcome our reader’s opinions on these matters [4]. Messages with a suitable Subject header should be sent to [email protected] or [email protected].
Table
Table 1. Open Access (OA) and non-Open Access (non-OA) papers published in International Journal of Molecular Sciences in 2005 [3].
Table 1. Open Access (OA) and non-Open Access (non-OA) papers published in International Journal of Molecular Sciences in 2005 [3].
Number of papers 1Number of citations 2Average citation
Non-OA31150.455
OA13191.462
1Only research papers and review papers are counted. Other materials such as editorials, are not included.
2Up to 13 July 2007, according to Web of Sciences.
3By April 2007, all the non-OA papers were changed to Open Access.
Table
Table 2. Open Access (OA) and non-Open Access (non-OA) papers published in Molecules in 2005 [3].
Table 2. Open Access (OA) and non-Open Access (non-OA) papers published in Molecules in 2005 [3].
Number of papers 1Number of citations 2Average citation
Non-OA 370430.614
OA74901.216
1Only research papers and review papers are counted. Other materials such as editorials, are not included.
2Up to 13 July 2007, according to Web of Sciences.
3By April 2007, all the non-OA papers were changed to Open Access.

Acknowledgements

I am grateful for comments and corrections made by Dr. Ricardo Aparicio and Dr. Derek McPhee.

References and Notes

  1. Lin, S.-K. Open Access and Author’s Open Choice. Molecules 2005, 10, 583–584. PDF format 16 K at http://www.mdpi.org/molecules/papers/10060583.pdf; HTML format at http://www.mdpi.org/molecules/html/10060583.htm. [Google Scholar]
  2. Lin, S.-K. Delayed Open Access or Permanent Non-Open Access. Molecules 2006, 11, 496–497. PDF format 15 K at http://www.mdpi.org/molecules/papers/11070496.pdf; HTML format at http://www.mdpi.org/molecules/html/11070496.htm. [Google Scholar]
  3. The raw data in Excel format is available upon request.
  4. For more information, visit the www.mdpi.org/oaj-supports.htm website.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Lin, S.-K. Non-Open Access and Its Adverse Impact on International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2007, 8, 686-687. https://doi.org/10.3390/i8070686

AMA Style

Lin S-K. Non-Open Access and Its Adverse Impact on International Journal of Molecular Sciences. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2007; 8(7):686-687. https://doi.org/10.3390/i8070686

Chicago/Turabian Style

Lin, Shu-Kun. 2007. "Non-Open Access and Its Adverse Impact on International Journal of Molecular Sciences" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 8, no. 7: 686-687. https://doi.org/10.3390/i8070686

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