open-access
Definition
Open-access refers to a publishing model that makes research openly available to readers without subscription barriers, typically financed through Article Processing Charges paid by authors upon acceptance of their work. Within this model, a journal's operating costs, including peer review, can be covered by the APC, allowing part of that charge to compensate editors and reviewers rather than directing revenue entirely to the publisher. Its widespread adoption has proceeded alongside the uptake of Open Science standards, increasing both the reach and the verifiability of published research.
Sources: Kunst (2022)
Related Terms
- academic publishing (1 shared article)
- editorial (1 shared article)
- advances.in (1 shared article)
- sustainable (1 shared article)
Applications
Open-access and Article Processing Charges
Open-access journals are predominantly financed through Article Processing Charges levied on authors at the point of acceptance. At Advances.in/Psychology, a portion of the APC is directed specifically toward compensating peer reviewers and editors, distinguishing this model from conventional open-access arrangements in which APC revenue accrues to the publisher. The journal also commits to offering reduced fees and waivers for scholars who cannot meet the standard charge.
Sources: Kunst (2022)
Open-access and Peer Review Compensation
The financial structure of open-access publishing creates a direct opportunity to compensate reviewers from APC revenue, a practice almost entirely absent from traditional publishing. Advances.in/Psychology implements a tiered payment scheme, with the first three completed review processes per year compensated at $100 each and subsequent processes at $150, funded through its open-access charge. This approach treats peer review as a paid professional service rather than unrecognized voluntary labor.
Sources: Kunst (2022)
Open-access and Open Science
Open-access publishing and Open Science standards have advanced together, collectively increasing the accessibility and reliability of academic research. Advances.in/Psychology ties its open-access mission explicitly to adherence to Transparency and Openness Promotion guidelines, covering data sharing, analytic transparency, pre-registration, and replication.
Sources: Kunst (2022)
