4 ms·

I hear they generally are "freely" available, just email the authors and ask.

subroutine 5y ago
Having to wait for an author to email you a copy isn't a viable solution. Even getting authors to post a free copy, which is NIH mandate is often overlooked... https://publicaccess.nih.gov/policy.htm https://publicaccess.nih.gov/policy.htm
- Someone 5y ago
  That’s not something you can blame the publishers for.
  - subroutine 5y ago
    Not saying it is.
BelenusMordred 5y ago
You're not wrong but that system only works on a very small scale. Do you really think the authors would be amenable to answering 10000 emails with the exact same request?
- pmyteh 5y ago
  Fortunately(?) most of us will never be in a position where even 10 people ask to do that...
- ebiester 5y ago
  In general, an averagely successful paper in most disciplines will get 200-250 readers. It’s only when there is outsized media attention that there is any issue. And luckily, for those cases today, sci-hub is available.
  - worik 5y ago
    A lot more readers than that, surely? In most disciplines there are a lot of, er, disciples. What is the definition of "moderately successful?" Perhaps you mean citations?
    - pmyteh 5y ago
      The modal number of citations for an academic paper is ~0. 200 citations is a very successful paper in any discipline.
omega3 5y ago
Out of my small sample of three, one author sent me a journal, one ignored the request and another told me to pay him for it.
jasode 5y ago
>I hear they generally are "freely" available, just email the authors and ask. I didn't downvote you but the way contracts work, the researchers are not allowed to share the final published article that was professionally edited and typeset by the journal. What they can legally share are the preprints and manuscripts.[1] Yes, some researchers may ignore the contract they signed (wink wink) and share the final published pdf. IME whenever I asked for a paper, I got the preprint -- which means the author honored their publishing contract. The preprint is fine in most cases because it will have the main idea of the research. However, it's often missing the pretty graphs and illustrations that the journal adds. [1] https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies/sharing https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies/sharing

Having to wait for an author to email you a copy isn't a viable solution. Even getting authors to post a free copy, which is NIH mandate is often overlooked... https://publicaccess.nih.gov/policy.htm https://publicaccess.nih.gov/policy.htm

Someone 5y ago
That’s not something you can blame the publishers for.
- subroutine 5y ago
  Not saying it is.

BelenusMordred 5y ago

You're not wrong but that system only works on a very small scale. Do you really think the authors would be amenable to answering 10000 emails with the exact same request?

pmyteh 5y ago
Fortunately(?) most of us will never be in a position where even 10 people ask to do that...
ebiester 5y ago
In general, an averagely successful paper in most disciplines will get 200-250 readers. It’s only when there is outsized media attention that there is any issue. And luckily, for those cases today, sci-hub is available.
- worik 5y ago
  A lot more readers than that, surely? In most disciplines there are a lot of, er, disciples. What is the definition of "moderately successful?" Perhaps you mean citations?
  - pmyteh 5y ago
    The modal number of citations for an academic paper is ~0. 200 citations is a very successful paper in any discipline.

omega3 5y ago

Out of my small sample of three, one author sent me a journal, one ignored the request and another told me to pay him for it.

jasode 5y ago

>I hear they generally are "freely" available, just email the authors and ask. I didn't downvote you but the way contracts work, the researchers are not allowed to share the final published article that was professionally edited and typeset by the journal. What they can legally share are the preprints and manuscripts.[1] Yes, some researchers may ignore the contract they signed (wink wink) and share the final published pdf. IME whenever I asked for a paper, I got the preprint -- which means the author honored their publishing contract. The preprint is fine in most cases because it will have the main idea of the research. However, it's often missing the pretty graphs and illustrations that the journal adds. [1] https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies/sharing https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies/sharing