To put it simply, "Open Access" (OA) is a form of scholarly publishing that is made freely available online. OA is highlighted in this guide because it is increasingly facilitating the dissemination of academic scholarship worldwide, and making it easier to access international research. Below are two guides that provide more information on this form of publishing.
As with any source, you should evaluate them for the quality of their scholarship, but OA journals are often subjected to peer review and other editorial processes that make them suitable for use in academic work. See Evaluating Sources for tips on how to assess scholarly quality.
