Understanding the Open-Access Practices of China’s Science, Technology, and Mathematics Journals: Insights from Editors

Science, technology, and medical (STM) journals have been pivotal in driving the development of open access (OA). This study explores the factors influencing the implementation of OA practices in STM journals through a qualitative analysis of the insights of seventeen STM journal editors in China. Using semi-structured interviews and grounded coding analysis, the authors identified five main categories and thirteen subcategories of factors that impact OA practices for STM journals. Subsequently, a theoretical framework that elucidates the positions and interrelationships of these categories is developed. The findings suggest that motivation and behavioural intention form the main storyline for STM journals’ OA practices, while individual differences, social reference norms, and institutional policy context serve as situational influencing factors. This study offers valuable insights into the dynamics of scholarly communication and guides future OA movements in China and beyond.