Training in open access for doctoral students: results of a survey of current and recent students and supervisors

Introduction. This study aimed to understand the extent to which doctoral students receive training relating to open access publishing, and the form of that training. Method. An international online survey of 1,569 current and recent doctoral students and supervisors was undertaken. Questions covered the extent and nature of training in open access offered to doctoral students, sources of respondents’ open access knowledge, and their perspectives on open access. Analysis. Descriptive statistical analysis was conducted with some non-parametric tests. Free-text data were thematically analysed. Results. The large majority of current and recent doctoral students and supervisors indicated there was no mandatory open access training at their institutions. More than half of respondents thought they had good or excellent understanding of open access, with those who had completed training more likely to highly rate their understanding. Only 27% of respondents felt the level of training offered was sufficient. Respondents suggested that institutions could take further action to support understanding of open access. Conclusion. There is a need for institutions to develop further training in open access. Researchers who undertake training in report a better level of understanding of open access and place more importance on it as a factor in selecting a journal.