RE: Surveys, self-archiving, and what authors want to do

["Alma Swan" <a.swan@talk21.com>]

Cliff Morgan wrote:

> Alma Swan may claim that the survey is rigorous and meaningful, but its
> objectivity is rather undermined by the following introductory sentence:
> 
> "Studies show that open access increases the impact of - and number of
> citations to - work made accessible in this way."
> 
> Even if we set aside the contentiousness of the statement, it surely has
> no place in an introduction to an objective survey of authors' attitudes
> since it is leading the witness.
> 
> If you are asking for someone's opinion about something, surely you
> don't start off by making any claims as to the positive (or negative)
> aspects of the issue that you are surveying?

The survey did not ask for opinions. It asked for facts about author
experiences. Surveys of that type don't 'lead' respondents.

Alma Swan
Key Perspectives Ltd
Truro, UK