Why do we have to pay for scientific journals/ research papers?

Hahaha...

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and then I'd end up being black listed by the publishing houses T_T

 

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I agree with this. Why not use this as an opportunity to start a new business? With a modern Web interface, I suspect there is a niche there to make a buck. Current providers are very poor, I see the same thing in engineering papers.

 

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The thing is.. if you publish your own result, in your own webpage (self-publish), none will take it seriously, because it doesn't pass standard "quality control" process. Imagine if you apply for post-doc, and write in your CV, that you publish this and that, but in your own website, would you think the prospective employer will value them? :shrug:

I do, however, publish my paper that is already accepted (but not published yet, still in waiting line) in journal and those that are presented in conferences for free.

Btw, last week I got a full text of an article from an author that I inquired by email. But, my request was sent like 3 months ago :facepalm:

Basically, most of the time I always got the articles that I need, but when they are not for free access, I had to wait for some time (1 day to 3 months, lol

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). I have only bought a couple of times, when it was really urgent.

 

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I know! And when I order a book on Amazon on Monday, it's here by Thursday. Not exactly fair, is it?

Alas, the only reason Amazon is in business is to make money. Most research journal institutions hold themselves to higher powers of integrity and scientific thoroughness and accuracy.

So, they're a lot slower, yes, but the quality is a lot greater.

 

It varies by journal but many journals pay their reviewers very well. There are also the administrative and printing overheads, and many have no advertising income (things that bring the price of non-professional publications down). Probably most importantly journals have very small circulations. Many do have reduced price or even free subscription prices for for students. Also many Universities have accounts and there is, of course, the library.

~Raithere

 

Uhm, no, no. The article that I mentioned is not from a journal, but from the original author. I needed the article, but couldn’t get it for free from the journal publisher. So, I wrote an email to the original author, asking whether I can get a copy of full text of his article for free. The email was sent 3 months ago, and I got the reply just last week, I even already forgot that I asked, lol. The author said that he was very busy. However, with the email he sent me also his article that I wanted and some others relevant references. Also, this happens very rarely. Usually I got faster response.

I do not exactly understand the cost, but was thinking that the price of each article is too expensive, especially that they got the article from the authors for free, and in many cases, even the authors have to pay. This has been slowing down my work and taking up unnecessary time and effort.

 

I'm not sure what there is not to understand about the price. It's simple supply and demand. That being said, have you checked with your library? Many journals offer free services to Universities. For example, ScienceDirect:

http://www.info.sciencedirect.com/using/access_article_display/campus/

If your library doesn't subscribe provide them the information and ask if they would. Additionally, your library should have a copy of many Journals. Any they don't have you can probably get or request copies of articles through the inter-library loan program.

~Raithere

 

Which journals are those? I've never heard of a journal that paid reviewers for reviewing articles.

 

Thanks for info. I can't write long now coz I have to catch my train soon. There are hundreds type of journals just in chemistry field (my field is related with water & biochemistry). Here is a screenshot of my uni library's journal subscriptions in chemistry field.
Note:
green means: free access
yellow means: can be accessed from uni (Uni has subscription)
red means: no free access (Uni don't subscribe to it)

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As for science direct, it also publishes many types of journals. Here is a screenshot of example of journals in chemistry fields published in science direct:

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green keys means free access.

Will write details possibly tomorrow. Ciao.

 

My mistake, you're correct. Editors (which is what I was thinking of) get paid, reviewers typically don't.

~Raithere