A Structural Equation Model of Factors Predicting Open Access Adoption Among Academic Authors in Nigerian Universities

This study developed and tested a structural equation model of the factors predicting open access adoption behaviour among academic authors in Nigerian universities. Despite the global momentum of the open access movement, adoption by Nigerian academics remains uneven and theoretically underexplored. The study employed a quantitative survey design with 850 academic staff drawn through stratified random sampling from twenty federal, state, and private universities across all six geopolitical zones. Path analysis using structural equation modelling was conducted to test a hypothesised model integrating the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology, academic incentive theory, and copyright awareness constructs. The model explained a substantial proportion of variance in open access adoption intention. Attitude towards open access, perceived usefulness, awareness of institutional open access policies, and performance expectancy were the strongest direct predictors of adoption behaviour, while perceived copyright risk significantly mediated the relationship between attitude and behaviour. The study makes an original methodological contribution by constructing and validating a Nigerian academic context-specific open access adoption instrument. Keywords: open access adoption, structural equation modelling, academic authors, Nigerian universities, UTAUT.