The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) is a website that provides a "one stop shop for users to Open Access Journals," and defines open access journals as "journals that use a funding model that does not charge readers or their institutions for access." They are free to all users, with the publishers or authors paying publishing fees.

Since DOAJ only includes peer-reviewed journals on its site, yes, open access journals may be used like any peer-reviewed journal for academic research.

For more information about Open Access, visit Cornell University Library's Open Access page.