Re: Open Access Citation Impact Advantage: weight of the evidence

[Philip Davis <pmd8@cornell.edu>]

Heather,

As a doctoral student, you may do well to read deeply into the 
sociology of science, for it is there that you will find answers 
to the questions that seem to befuddle you. Specifically, you 
will find the concept of *social stratification* which explains 
how scientific authors are concentrated at research universities 
along with the resources (equipment, grants, trained peers, 
graduate students) and world-class research libraries required to 
service them. It makes a lot of sense and explains the lack of a 
citation (but not readership) effect reported in the rigorous 
studies.

-Phil Davis

Heather Morrison wrote:
> My comment: the empirical research findings are supported by
> logic. Indeed, one might argue that this research, which welcome
> and useful, should not be necessary. It just makes sense that if
> a scholar makes their work more widely available, more people
> will read it (including scholars) and cite it.