Perception and Awareness of Early Career Researchers on FAIR Principles and Open Access Journals

The Case of Central University of Punjab

Abstract

In the era of open-access publishing, understanding researcher behaviour towards openly available scholarly content is crucial. This study examines the perceptions and awareness of early-career researchers (PG and PhD students) at the Central University of Punjab regarding open access (OA) journals and the FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable). Data was collected using a structured questionnaire that included demographic details and perceptions, sampling 26 statements to gather diverse opinions across multiple communication methods, including social media and in-person interactions. Results indicate a high awareness of scholarly (79.7%) and OA journals (86.6%), yet a lower familiarity with FAIR principles (52%) and predatory journals (38.2%). Notably, a significant majority (78%) use OA data and 74% believe that journals should adopt FAIR principles. The reliance on platforms like Sci-Hub raises ethical concerns about research accessibility, while Google Scholar remains the primary search tool among these researchers. Citation preferences exhibited varied trust in OA journal quality, further exposing confusion between OA journals and platforms, which underscores the need for enhanced education in this domain. The study's findings, based solely on respondents from the Central University of Punjab, may not be applicable to other institutions or diverse researcher populations and may be influenced by a male-dominated sample. Additionally, the research is limited as it relies on self-reported data, which may be prone to inaccuracies or biases. However, the study provides valuable insights into early-career researchers' awareness and perceptions of open access and FAIR principles, addressing challenges such as the reliance on Sci-Hub and journal-platform confusion. Such insights can inform targeted educational programs and interventions, contributing to the broader discourse on enhancing research accessibility and promoting ethical scholarly practices, advantageous to OA journals, platforms, and policymakers.