Open Access: hearing the music but not knowing the lyrics. The evolution of knowledge and perceptions among researchers at a Spanish university (2021-2024).

After years of advocacy in favour of Open Access (OA), it is a timely moment to assess whether knowledge of its meaning and practical implications has become truly established within a specific research community. This study analyses the evolution of attitudes and knowledge concerning OA among the staff at the Universitat Jaume I (UJI) between 2021 and 2024-a period marked by regulatory reforms in Spain and a significant rollout of institutional policies. To this end, we examine the results of two institutional surveys conducted in 2021 (N = 505) and 2024 (N = 330), categorising participants by academic career stage (R1-R4), field of knowledge, and gender. The study evaluates critical dimensions such as knowledge of OA pathways, the use of the institutional repository, and research data management. Our findings suggest that, although familiarity with the concept is increasing, the research community remains far from mastering the practical implications of Open Access. These data provide critical evidence regarding the effectiveness of Open Science policies in transforming academic culture.