Why Open Access May Not Boost Citations
October 27, 2025
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2 min
A recent study published in Accountability in Research found that articles in companion open access (cOA) journals receive significantly fewer citations compared to those in traditional journals, despite generating substantial publication fees. The analysis covered 52,232 original articles from 2011 to 2023 across top internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and obstetrics journals. It revealed that cOA publications averaged 9.4 citations, whereas traditional journals averaged 18.2, highlighting a widening citation gap. The study suggests improvements to the cOA model to enhance transparency and reduce costs.
1. cOA journals received fewer citations than traditional journals. 2. Average citations for cOA: 9.4; traditional: 18.2. 3. Study included over 52,000 articles from 2011-2023. 4. $34.9 million in publication fees generated from cOA journals. 5. 43% of publications had female first authors, more likely to publish in cOA. 6. Median APC for cOA journals was $2,000. 7. Research suggests improved editorial policies for cOA publishing.
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