>83,000 downloads · 182 countries · av. 38downloads per summary
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Research findings can be difficult for people outside academia to access (Alferink & Marsden, 2023). The Open Accessible Summaries in Language Studies (OASIS; Marsden et al., 2018) database helps bridge this gap by providing summaries of journal articles on language-related research—including learning, teaching, use, and multilingualism.
Downloads by user type �(n=13,819; July 2024)
Conceptually accessible
Scientific texts are becoming less and less readable (Plavén-Sigray et al., 2017).
Plain language summaries improve non-experts’ knowledge and understanding of research and are perceived as more credible than abstracts (Kerwer et al., 2021).
OASIS summaries are written in non-technical language, avoid jargon, and clearly present the study’s goals, significance, methods, and findings.
Physically accessible
86% of articles in five major language learning and teaching journals (2019–2021) were behind paywalls (Alferink & Marsden, 2023).
As a result, educators rarely engage directly with research, and professional publications seldom cite journal articles (Marsden & Kasprowicz, 2017).
OASIS summaries are free to download and adapt, regardless of paywalls.
Searchable by topic, author, participant type, journal, year, language, and collection.
Time efficient and available in multiple languages
Lack of time is a key barrier to research engagement (Marsden & Kasprowicz, 2017).
Single-page summaries tailored to your interests can be delivered to your inbox.
Summaries can be in any language, including sign languages.
Making language research accessible
One-page, non-technical summaries of language studies published in journals
Title, reference, and DOI of original article
Discussion
Helps reader interpret findings, understand scope, and relate to practice
Appendices, data, �CC-BY-NC licence
New audiences beyond academia with limited time and access (Marsden & Kasprowicz, 2017)
Language teachers
Materials developers
Professional development providers
Academic audiences
Students in language studies
Academic staff
Engagement with journal articles�(Shepherd et al., 2023)
19 collaborating journals listed on the Arts & Humanities Citation Index, the Social Sciences Citation Index, or the Science Citation Index Expanded require or encourage summaries.
Individual authors canupload summaries of their own work published in eligible journals.
Anyone (e.g., students, educators) can write author-approved summariesof others’ research, for example, as part of coursework.
> 2,340 summaries · 29 languages
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Impact and benefits
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For writers
Increased dissemination beyond paywalls.
Articles with OASIS summaries receive more citations and downloads than similar articles without.
For readers
Teachers find the summaries easy to understand. �Of users interviewed, 87% use them to access research more easily, and 79% to develop ideas for practice (n=220; Alferink & Marsden, 2023).
Challenges and future directions
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OASIS topics are susceptible to academic bias. Wider collaboration is encouraged to ensure representative research coverage.
Not all research is immediate applicable. Intermediaries and collaboration can help tailor and contextualise findings for practical use.
Citation indices and peer review drive quality control. Critical engagement is encouraged.
Get involved
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Descriptive title
Method �Contextual information (participants, materials). Glosses, examples, no technical detail
Results �Bulleted, descriptive,�no statistics
Literature�Explains importance and goals. No jargon, no RQs