Open Access Initiatives and its Implications on Research Transformations

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Open Access initiative enhances innovative forms of scholarly inquiry and aids the impactful com munication by transforming the way research output is disseminated and published. Prime objective of OA initiative is to improve wide accessibility and promotes visibility of research outputs without geographi cal barriers. This chapter investigates open access initiatives and the principles behind OA. It identifies the characteristics of OA and types of OA publishing business models. Moreover, the chapter discusses the growth of OA in Africa and examines the current trend in OA journals. Also, the chapter identifies various roles played by stakeholders towards adoption and use of OA for research transformation. This chapter examines different benefits and challenges faced by organizations, libraries, publishers, and researchers towards OA adoption and use for the research advancement. Recommendations on how to improve research outputs’ visibility using OA were highlighted. Conclusion and suggestion for further research are provided