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Why are you under the impression scholars write the papers for free? That is what researchers are employed at universities to do ... Yes, it is not like publish
by dinkumthinkum 11y ago
Why are you under the impression scholars write the papers for free? That is what researchers are employed at universities to do ... Yes, it is not like publishing a book but these papers are not really like books anyway.
- Retra 11y agoThey're not getting paid by the publisher.
- dinkumthinkum 11y agoNo we don't get paid by the publisher but we are paid to write papers. I can be downvoted for being correct but it doesn't change anything. Researchers are paid by research institution to do research for which product are papers.
- studentrob 11y agoYou're totally right. He does make some other great points in his comment which could be acknowledged in a measured response...
- alanh 11y agoYou’re being downvoted because this technicality / POV has no real bearing on the main question and doesn’t add to the discussion.
- Gatsky 11y agoThe point is that publishers make immense profits from publishing the work of others whom they don't compensate. Do you think it is 'fine' that the output of publicly funded research is locked away and rented out to other scientists by 3rd parties who contribute very little?
- igravious 11y ago> Why are you under the impression scholars write the papers for free? That is what researchers are employed at universities to do ... Researchers are employed to drumroll please research. (inc. teach, and mentor, and advise, and admin, etc.) Disseminating your research, that requires writing it up, yes. So, no, they don't technically write up the research for free, but those who benefit (the publishers) are not the same entities who pay the researchers salaries so it's as if they are getting something for practically nothing, i.e. "free". > Yes, it is not like publishing a book but these papers are not really like books anyway. Nobody is making that comparison. --- It's very simple, the internet has shone a strong light on a very profitable business model and people don't like what they see.
- _of 11y agoThe majority of scientific research in the U.S. and elsewhere is funded by tax-payers money in the form of research grants. The outcome of this research (the paper) should be free.