Open science indicator compliance by Spanish scientific journals

Abstract

This paper focuses on scientific journals’ policies on open access and open science. The subject has gained increasing relevance, driven by the need for more-democratic access to knowledge and improved research visibility, which require eliminating the financial, legal, and technical barriers that restrict access to scientific output.

This paper uses the findings of FECYT’s 2023 Assessment of the Editorial and Scientific Quality of Spanish Scientific Journals, with 254 participating journals, as its case study. Open science indicators assess the transparency of policies on content access, reuse, openness, and reproducibility. Nonparametric tests analyse the relationship between the indicators and the dimensions of publisher type and subject area.

High compliance rates are found for indicators related to publication licences and intellectual property rights. Only 37% of the journals examined post their editorial policy on Sherpa Romeo. Ninety-four percent publish open access. However, open peer review is rarely applied (0.38% of the journals). Journals in Communication, Information and Scientific Documentation, Fine Arts, Education Science, and Biomedical Sciences have high compliance percentages. Most journals (83%) are institutional, with universities and associations generally exhibiting better results.

This study is based on specific indicators that do not cover all the factors that influence the transition toward open science; for example, editorial culture and technological infrastructure are not envisaged. Furthermore, differences in open science implementation are identified between disciplinary areas and between publisher types, but the underlying causes of these differences are not thoroughly investigated. Future research could address these points for a fuller understanding.

This study highlights the need for journals to improve transparency by adopting open peer review and clear policies. These changes enhance accessibility and credibility, fostering inclusive knowledge dissemination. Institutions and policymakers should support these efforts to boost research impact.

This study offers insights into open science practices in Spanish journals, a growing academic topic. Its originality lies in examining open science indicators across disciplines and publishers. By identifying strengths and gaps, the study helps journals enhance transparency.