Ranking, recognition and charges per publication (APC): criteria prioritized by CONICET researchers to choose where to publish

Abstract

This article studies the criteria prioritized by the researchers of the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET, acronym in Spanish) to choose where to publish. For this, a survey was used whose results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Predictably, it was found that these researchers prioritize ranking and impact indicators above all (73%) and, as a finding, that, in second order, the fact that journals do not charge for publishing (54%) -value with greater representation in biology, agricultural sciences and engineering-. Meanwhile, open access policies that allow maximum diffusion are somewhat undervalued in general (11%). The investigation carried out confirms the relevance of the evaluative cultures and the dynamics of the disciplinary fields as structuring of the priorities to select publications. Likewise, it manages to demonstrate from the supply side that the APC collected present difficulties and non-payment is an important criterion for authors in Argentina. It is concluded that the expansion of open access under business models that consider knowledge as merchandise is not only a risk for developing countries, but that this expansion and the onerous costs of APC are already modifying the practices of those who do science and limiting a true free circulation of knowledge.