Factors influencing dissertation authors' decisions to publish in open access

Dissertations are a credible and trusted resource for those seeking cutting-edge knowledge. They typically are difficult to access, and often researchers need to purchase dissertations in order to examine them closely. Using survey methodology, this study examined the dissertation author's awareness of publishing in open access, as well as the key factors that motivate the dissertation author's decision to publish in open access format. Participants were all doctoral and Ph.D. students or alumni at Pittsburgh area higher education institutions. Results of the survey revealed that the majority of the doctoral alumni and doctoral students were aware of publishing in open access. Both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations were examined, and five key factors emerged from an analysis of the survey results. The number one motivation for publishing in open access format was an extrinsic motivation: Authors believed open access publishing led to a richer database repository. Despite the fact that the most frequently identified motivation was extrinsic, the other four most significant motivations were all intrinsic. For example, open-access publishing was viewed as being of benefit to authors' careers or as increasing authors' prestige and reputations. The results of this research are significant for those who wish to encourage further use of open access publishing.