Is 'open science' delivering benefits? Major study finds proof is sparse: It's hard to measure social and economic impacts of making papers and data free, researchers say.

The article focuses on the findings of the Open Science Impact Pathways (PathOS) project, which investigates the social and economic impacts of the open science movement that advocates for free access to research outputs. The study indicates that while open-access articles are cited more frequently and benefit citizen scientists, there is limited evidence of long-lasting effects on research or significant economic and social benefits. The PathOS team utilized a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze the impact of open science, revealing that while open data can save users time and potentially lead to financial benefits, the overall effectiveness of open science practices remains complex and context-dependent. The project also emphasizes the need for better data curation and consistent measurement of open science's impacts to inform future policies and practices. [Extracted from the article]