The impact of free access to the scientific literature: a review of recent research

Objectives:The paper reviews recent studies that evaluate the impact of free access (open access) on the behavior of scientists as authors, readers, and citers in developed and developing nations. It also examines the extent to which the biomedical literature is used by the general public.Method:The paper is a critical review of the literature, with systematic description of key studies.Results:Researchers report that their access to the...