Do Open Access Articles Have a Citation Advantage Over Toll Access Articles? A Comparative Analysis of Articles Published in the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery From 2019 to 2023 Based on Web of Science Data

Abstract:  Objective: 

This study aimed to compare the citation rates of open access (OA), and toll access (TA) articles published in the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery between 2019 and 2023, and to examine whether OA articles received more citations.

Methods: 

Using the Web of Science database, articles published in the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery between 2019 and 2023 were listed, excluding those with corrections or retractions. Articles were divided into 2 groups: OA and TA. The number of articles and citation counts for each group were analyzed by year. Citation rates were compared using the independent sample t test, with a p-value of <0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results: 

A total of 4691 articles were analyzed, of which 7.14% were OA and 92.86% were TA. Published in 2021, 2020, and 2019, OA articles had statistically significantly higher citation counts than TA articles. OA articles were found to be funded at a higher rate than TA articles.

Conclusion: 

This study demonstrated that OA articles received more citations over time and were more likely to be funded. Although it is not definitively clear whether the citation advantage stems from the quality of the articles or their open-access status, the citation advantage of OA articles is striking.