Platforms, programmability, and precarity: The platformization of research repositories in academic libraries

Authors : Jean-Christophe Plantin, Andrea Thomer

We investigate in this article how repository platforms change the sharing and preservation of digital objects in academic libraries. We use evidence drawn from semi-structured interviews with 31 data repository managers working at 21 universities using the product Figshare for institutions.

We first show that repository managers use this platform to bring together actors, technologies, and processes usually scattered across the library to assign to them the tasks that they value less—such as data preparation or IT maintenance—and spend more time engaging in activities they appreciate—such as raising awareness of data sharing.

While this platformization of data management improves their job satisfaction, we reveal how it simultaneously accentuates the outsourcing of libraries’ core mission to private actors. We eventually discuss how this platformization can deskill librarians and perpetuate precarity politics in university libraries.

URL : Platforms, programmability, and precarity: The platformization of research repositories in academic libraries

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448231176758

Publication en accès ouvert et coûts d’Article Processing Charges (APC) en Argentine

Auteur.ices : Fernanda Beigel, Osvaldo Gallardo, Soledad Gomez, Flavia Prado

La prolifération des revues en libre accès présente un dilemme difficile pour les chercheurs basés en Argentine, en raison des coûts élevés des APC (Article Processing Charges) qui créent un écart entre ceux qui peuvent payer pour publier et ceux qui ne le peuvent pas. Dans la première partie de ce travail, nous analysons le problème des frais APC dans différents pays d’Amérique latine et les leçons des études réalisées sur le cas de l’Argentine.

Nous décrivons ensuite la population de chercheurs faisant l’objet de l’enquête — les directeurs de projets financés au niveau national — ainsi que la méthode utilisée et ses résultats. Nous proposons une classification des pratiques de publication en libre accès avec APC en quatre groupes comprenant des chercheurs de plusieurs disciplines.

Dans chaque groupe, on observe des tendances différentes vers la publication en accès ouvert ou fermé, l’origine des fonds utilisés pour payer les APC et les disciplines dans lesquelles ce phénomène a plus ou moins d’impact. Enfin, nous analysons la section qualitative de l’enquête qui comprend les questions ouvertes auxquelles ont répondu une bonne partie des chercheurs, offrant un aperçu de leurs stratégies face au problème et les voies envisagées pour en atténuer les effets néfastes.

DOI : https://doi.org/10.4000/140p9

Confiance et pratiques informationnelles d’accès à la science ouverte en SHS

Autrice : Mariannig Le Béchec

Prenant en compte l’étude des usages des quatre plateformes d’OpenEdition, cet article considère que les publics des savoirs ouverts développent des pratiques informationnelles en lien avec leur cursus universitaire.

L’objectif est de mieux prendre en compte la façon dont des liens se constituent entre les pratiques ordinaires d’accès aux publications scientifiques et la confiance décidée dans leurs pratiques informationnelles.

L’étude qualitative présente un accès par des plateformes commerciales, une lecture sélective et des relais en interne ou par la conversation qui ne tiennent pas compte des métriques des articles scientifiques dans les choix de lecture.

URL : https://lesenjeux.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr/2025/varia/confiance-et-pratiques-informationnelles-dacces-a-la-science-ouverte-en-shs/

 

La publication de revues SHS en accès ouvert par les structures publiques de l’édition scientifique en Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes : une mise en pratique des politiques nationales ?

Autrice : Émilie Pineau

Ce mémoire propose un état des lieux de la publication de revues de sciences humaines et sociales en contexte de science ouverte en Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Même si l’objectif est d’évaluer la mise en pratique des politiques nationales, ce mémoire ne fournit pas une analyse exhaustive puisqu’il est spécifiquement ancré dans un espace régional.

L’auteur tente ici de comprendre le poids que la politique nationale exerce sur les structures de la documentation et de l’information scientifique. Comment sont dirigés les financements ? Quelles mutations induisent-ils ? Comment les pratiques éditoriales se transforment ?

URL : La publication de revues SHS en accès ouvert par les structures publiques de l’édition scientifique en Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes : une mise en pratique des politiques nationales ?

DUMAS : https://dumas.ccsd.cnrs.fr/dumas-05093586v1

Open Science: A Review of Its Effectiveness and Implications for Service Research

Authors : Yves Van Vaerenbergh, Simon Hazée, Thijs J. Zwienenberg

Open science aims to enhance the integrity, transparency, and openness of research to improve the reproducibility and accessibility of scientific knowledge. It has received renewed attention due to reported concerns about questionable research practices across multiple scientific disciplines. While various open science practices, such as preregistration and data sharing, have been developed, their effectiveness remains unclear.

This paper provides a review of current meta-research on open science practices, assessing their effectiveness and identifying key initiatives that promote transparency and openness in research. Next, we report the results of a preregistered retrospective observational analysis of 517 studies from 254 papers published in the Journal of Service Research and Journal of Service Management between 2019 and 2023.

This analysis evaluates which open science practices are already in use and to what extent, as well as whether these practices align with the recommendations derived from the meta-research review. Finally, we present actionable guidelines and resources aimed at encouraging authors, reviewers, and editors to adopt effective open science practices in service research, both in the short and long term.

URL: Open Science: A Review of Its Effectiveness and Implications for Service Research

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1177/10946705251338461

And Plato met ChatGPT: an ethical reflection on the use of chatbots in scientific research writing, with a particular focus on the social sciences

Authors : Reyes Calderon, Francisco Herrera

This interdisciplinary paper analyzes the use of Large Language Models based chatbots (LLM-chatbots), with ChatGPT the most known exponent, in scientific research writing. By interacting with LLM-chatbots, researchers could reduce efforts and costs as well as improve efficiency, but taking important risks, limitations, and weaknesses, which could highly-order erosion scientific thought.

While many scientific journals, as well as major publishers such as Springer-Nature or Taylor & Francis, are restricting its use, others advocate for its normalization. Debate focuses on two main questions: the possible authorship of LLM-chatbots, which is majority denied because their inability to meet the required standards; and the acceptance of hybrid articles (using LLM-chatbots).

Very recently, focusing on the education area, literature has found analogical similarities between some issues involved in Chatbots and that of Plato criticisms of writing, contained in the Phaedrus. However, the research area has been neglected. Combining philosophical and technological analysis, we explore Plato’s myth of Theuth and Thamus, questioning if chatbots can improve science. From an interdisciplinary perspective, and according with Plato, we conclude LLM-chatbots cannot be considered as authors in a scientific context.

Moreover, we offer some arguments and requirements to accept hybrid articles. We draw attention to the need for social science publishers, an area where conceptual hypotheses can take a long time to confirm, rather than solely on experimental observations. Finally, we advocate that publishers, communities, technical experts, and regulatory authorities collaborate to establish recommendations and best practices for chatbot use.

URL : And Plato met ChatGPT: an ethical reflection on the use of chatbots in scientific research writing, with a particular focus on the social sciences

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-04650-0

Incentives for Open Science and Advancing Sustainability: A German Perspective

Authors : Markus Putnings, Michael Zweier

Open science in ensuring equitable access to information is relevant to the attainment of all United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Badges, prizes and awards evaluate and recognise achievements, encourage involvement in open science and open access practices and provide an opportunity to present related activities to the outside world in a succinct form.

The focus, however, is not on mundane self-promotion, but rather on the goal of external and internal reflection and promotion of the work done, as well as an appropriate presentation of the open resources and workflows produced. Prizes and awards constitute a stimulus for best practice, education and exchange both within an institution, with an institution ́s users and with the wider community.

This chapter provides an overview of the various badges, awards and prizes relevant to Germany as incentive systems for open science and open access activities. The contributions to the SDGs and education for sustainable development (ESD) are contextualised and discussed. It concludes with a selection of recommendations and summarises the most important results.

URL : Incentives for Open Science and Advancing Sustainability: A German Perspective

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111336466-006