DGI Deutsche Gesellschaft für Informationswissenschaft und Informationspraxis
Abstract
Sir Karl Popper postulates the public character of scientific methods. "Objectivity" is not the product of individual highly self-controlled scientists, but the result of public control and criticism. Robert K. Merton distinguishes four institutional imperatives of the scientific ethos: universalism, communism, disinterestedness, and organized scepticism. Conventional "peer reviewed" paper journals are said to be the "backbone" of scientific communication. Their mainly function is the control of scientific communication. Digitalized scientific / scholarly communication has many advantages. The future of "open access" publishing depends on several factors, among others: Are the functions of paper journals really "indispensable"? If yes: Is it possible to substitute the functions of conventional paper journals by open access publishing and communication
