Publication fees in Qualis journals
from the golden route to hybrid titles
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5195/biblios.2025.1295Keywords:
Scientific journal, Open Access, Hybrid journals, Qualis journals, article processing chargesAbstract
Objective. To analyze the presence of journals that charge processing fees in the evaluation of Brazilian scientific production. The specific objectives are a) to calculate the average value of processing fees charged by scientific journals in which Brazilian scientific production is published, b) to verify the presence of scientific journals that charge processing fees by evaluation area, and c) to identify the presence of hybrid titles among the journals that charge processing fees evaluated. Method. From the list of journals evaluated in Qualis CAPES (2017-2020) present in the OpenAlex catalog, those with a record of processing fee values were selected to compose the research universe, totaling 6,330 titles. The categorization by areas adopts the evaluation area of the Sucupira Platform. The identification of the access model for titles that charge fees was based on data from OpenAlex. Results. The existence of titles that charge fees was identified in all strata and areas of evaluation of Brazilian scientific production, with variation in the average value of fees between areas and broad areas. The average fee is US$2,887, with higher evaluation strata corresponding to higher publication fees. One-third of the titles are open access journals, while the rest are hybrid titles. The data show significant differences in the average article processing charges for gold open access titles, averaging US$1,635, and hybrid titles, averaging US$3,518. Conclusions. The high presence of titles that adopt publication fees in all areas and strata of Brazilian scientific production evaluation, with average fees above the values considered fair, indicates the need for broader studies on investment in publication. The high presence of hybrid titles, which charge higher processing fees than those adopted by journals that promote the golden route, reflecting commercial publishing market practices, with double charging for access and publication of articles, highlights the need for clearer policies regarding the publication of open access articles in open access journals, in order to eliminate the duplication of publication and access costs.
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