Author(s)
Dr. Pushpanjali Shriram Patil, Ms. Archana Pratap Jadhav
- Manuscript ID: 140841
- Volume: 2
- Issue: 7
- Pages: 271–282
Subject Area: Other
Abstract
Open Access (OA), Open Science (OS), and Institutional Repositories (IRs) have become key parts of the “Create” dimension in scholarly communication, allowing researchers to quickly generate, share, and preserve knowledge. Even though discussions around OA and OS have progressed significantly, many researchers at the institutional level still aren’t fully aware of or engaging with these concepts. This study looks into how well faculty members and research scholars at a university understand, use, and view OA publishing, OS practices, and the IR deposit process. We used a descriptive survey method, administering a structured questionnaire to 220 participants chosen through stratified random sampling from five faculties. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. The findings show that while awareness of Open Access is high, the understanding of Open Science as a more encompassing concept (including open data, open peer review, and open methodology) is quite limited. Additionally, self-archiving in the institutional repository tends to be inconsistent, often driven by compliance with mandates instead of personal motivation. Major barriers identified include fears related to predatory journals, a lack of institutional incentives, and confusion over copyright issues. The paper rounds off with suggestions for library-led advocacy, policy mandates, and support services to help foster a stronger open scholarship culture.