Academic Titles and Open Science Perspectives: Investigating the Researchers' Attitudes at the University of Ljubljana School of Economics and Business, with Insights into the Development of Central Economics Library Services

Purpose: This paper aims to explore the integration of diverse Open Science practices at the University of Ljubljana, School of Economics and Business, examining their implementation across various academic levels and their influence on researchers' attitudes towards Open Science. Using a statistical analysis with academic title as the independent variable and agreement with individual Open Science practices as the dependent variable, the study examines how researchers from assistant to full professorship perceive Open Science. Additionally, the paper focuses on the development of services at the Central Economics Library based on survey results.

Methodology/Approach: An online survey was formulated and distributed to all academics within the school. Quantitative methods, employing statistical software SPSS, were used to analyse the influence of academic titles on attitudes towards Open Science.

Results: The survey revealed that academic titles did not significantly correlate with researchers' attitudes towards Open Science. While most researchers expressed belief in the benefits of open access publishing, certain Open Science practices encountered disapproval. The study also indicated varying levels of success in the Central Economics Library's efforts to raise awareness about Open Science, with strong support for Open Access publishing but mixed support for other Open Science practices.

Research Limitations: This study's limitations include the exclusive focus on one institution, restricting broader conclusions within higher education due to the small sample size. Additionally, variations across scientific fields or geographies might yield different perspectives.

Originality/Practical Implications: This survey, a rare exploration within Slovenian higher education, provides valuable insights into researchers' general attitudes towards Open Science. The findings offer potential applications for the Slovenian higher education sector and suggest avenues to develop new services catered to researchers at the Central Economics Library.