Open Access Policy

 

Open Access Policy for Social Computing Research

Introduction

This Open Access Policy aims to promote the dissemination and accessibility of scholarly research in the field of social computing. Open access facilitates the free availability and unrestricted use of research outputs, fostering global knowledge sharing and collaboration among researchers, practitioners, and the public.

Types of Open Access

  • Gold Open Access:Authors retain copyright to their work and grant users the right to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of articles, as long as they attribute the work appropriately and do not alter or transform it in any way.
  • Green Open Access:Authors deposit a version of their manuscript in an institutional or disciplinary repository after an embargo period, allowing free access to the work after a specified period.

Author Rights and Responsibilities

  • Copyright Retention:Authors retain the copyright to their work and grant the publisher a license to publish and distribute the article under specified terms.
  • Licensing:Authors choose an appropriate Creative Commons license or similar terms that define how others may reuse their work. Common licenses include CC BY (Attribution), CC BY-NC (Attribution-NonCommercial), and CC BY-NC-ND (Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives).
  • Deposit Requirements:Authors are encouraged to deposit their manuscripts in institutional repositories or disciplinary archives after publication, in accordance with publisher policies and copyright agreements.

Publication Charges

  • Article Processing Charges (APCs):To cover the costs of open access publication, authors may be required to pay APCs. Fees vary depending on the journal or publisher's policies and funding availability.
  • Waivers and Discounts:Publishers may offer waivers or discounts on APCs for authors from low-income countries, researchers without funding, or in other cases of financial hardship. Eligibility criteria and application processes for waivers should be transparently communicated.

Benefits of Open Access

  • Global Accessibility:Open access increases the visibility and impact of research by making it freely available to researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and the public worldwide.
  • Collaboration and Innovation:Open access promotes collaboration across disciplines and geographic boundaries, facilitating the exchange of ideas and accelerating scientific progress.
  • Public Engagement:Open access enables broader public engagement with research findings, enhancing transparency and accountability in academic research.

Compliance with Funding Agency Policies

  • Grant Requirements:Authors should comply with funding agency requirements regarding open access publication, including depositing manuscripts in designated repositories and ensuring accessibility to funded research outputs.

Implementation and Monitoring

  • Policy Implementation:Publishers and journals should implement this open access policy in accordance with best practices and industry standards, ensuring transparency and fairness in the publication process.
  • Monitoring and Evaluation:Periodic assessment and evaluation of the policy's effectiveness and impact on research dissemination and scholarly communication are essential for continuous improvement.

Ethical Considerations

  • Quality Assurance:Open access publications should uphold rigorous peer review and editorial standards to maintain the integrity and credibility of published research.
  • Copyright and Attribution:Proper attribution and respect for copyright are critical in open access publishing to acknowledge authors' contributions and protect intellectual property rights.