Access, accommodation, and science: Knowledge in an “open” world

Authors

  • Ashley Rose Kelly North Carolina State University
  • Meagan Kittle Autry North Carolina State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v18i6.4341

Keywords:

open access, PLOS, science writing

Abstract

The rising popularity of open access (OA) publishing in scholarly communities is purportedly leading to increased public knowledge. At least, that’s a key piece of the OA moral argument. This is especially true for discussions of scientific research. We argue, however, that while there have been significant moves to provide better material/technological access to research, OA advocates must still tackle the issue of making original scientific research conceptually accessible. Despite being freely available on the Internet, articles are not also by default linguistically, conceptually, or ideologically accessible to the global public(s) they are intended to reach. In this article, we examine how OA coupled with innovative scientific communication practices can help align the ideals of OA with the realities of complex, specialized genres of writing to provide better, more “open,” access to research. We look to PLOS ONE and the PLOS Blog Network to discuss how the innovative material access of PLOS ONE coupled with the communication strategies of PLOS Bloggers can work together toward more openly accessible original scientific research articles.

Author Biographies

Ashley Rose Kelly, North Carolina State University

Ashley R. Kelly is a Doctoral Candidate in the Communication, Rhetoric, and Digital Media program at North Carolina State University. Her research interests include rhetoric of science and technology, science studies, citizen science, genre theory, cognitive rhetorics.

Meagan Kittle Autry, North Carolina State University

Meagan Kittle Autry is a Doctoral Candidate in the Communication, Rhetoric, and Digital Media program at North Carolina State University. Her research interests include rhetoric of science and technology, open access, genre theory, and writing instruction.

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Published

2013-05-22

How to Cite

Kelly, A. R., & Autry, M. K. (2013). Access, accommodation, and science: Knowledge in an “open” world. First Monday, 18(6). https://doi.org/10.5210/fm.v18i6.4341