Mapping networks of scholar-led publishing initiatives: The case of the Radical Open Access Collective

The poster titled "Mapping networks of scholar-led publishing initiatives: The case of the Radical Open Access Collective" visualises the evolvement of social networks of scholar-led publishing initiatives on three different levels: the bibliometric network, the mailing list network and the affiliation network of the Radical Open Access Collective. 

As a case study, the Radical Open Access Collective (ROAC) with more than 70 members of publishing initatives is explored in a mixed methods research design. The focus of the qualitatively-driven mixed methods research and social network analysis is the Collective’s sociospatial strategies e.g. networking, strengthening vertical collaborations and promoting horizontal alliances. A systematic literature research and qualitative interviews with experts in the field of scholar-led publishing provide the main data set, being triangulated with desk-based research on the Radical Open Access Collective.

The results show networking strategies of the ROAC on three different levels building on a social network analysis. In addition, this poster contributes to a deeper understanding of a specific network of scholar-led publishing initiatives indicating their key sociospatial strategies in order to tackle challenges in a contentious struggle between scalability and nonscalability.