### Open Science Essentials in 2 Minutes: Part 4 — Understanding Preprints
Open science is transforming the manner in which research is disseminated, and preprints stand out as one of the most readily available instruments propelling this change. This article explores the fundamentals of preprints, detailing their definition, functionality, and the reasons why researchers—especially those in the early stages of their careers—should take full advantage of them.
—
#### **What Are Preprints?**
Preprints are preliminary iterations of research documents that are made publicly accessible before undergoing peer review and being officially published in scholarly journals. Rather than enduring the often protracted journal evaluation process, researchers can upload a freely available manuscript to either their personal website or, more frequently, to a **preprint server**. Notable examples include **PsyArXiv** for psychology and **arXiv** for physics and various other sciences.
#### **Why Use Preprints?**
1. **Speed of Dissemination**: Preprints enable researchers to rapidly share their discoveries, which can be crucial for urgent subjects or for early career scholars establishing their credentials.
2. **Citable Work**: Preprints are assigned a DOI (Digital Object Identifier), allowing them to be cited just like finalized papers. Platforms such as **Google Scholar** often connect preprint citations to the eventual journal publication, ensuring that the author receives full acknowledgment.
3. **Community Feedback**: By disseminating their work early, researchers can garner constructive critiques from their peers, identifying mistakes and enhancing the quality of the final article.
4. **Open Access**: A preprint guarantees that at least one version of the research is openly available to the worldwide research community, which is particularly vital for those lacking access to subscription-based journals.
—
#### **What Happens After Journal Publication?**
Even after your article is officially published, the preprint remains available. Having a free version boosts the visibility of your research, potentially attracting a larger readership and more citations. You may also upload a version that showcases the final accepted manuscript, referred to as a **postprint**, although the formatting will differ from the journal’s layout.
—
#### **Copyright and Journals: Common Concerns**
1. **Copyright Restrictions**: Most journals possess the rights to the formatted, typeset edition of your paper. While you generally cannot distribute the journal’s PDF, you *can* share the same content in a different format (e.g., the manuscript you originally submitted).
2. **Preprints and Journal Policies**: A large number of journals now accept, or even promote, preprints. Resources like **Sherpa/Romeo** enable you to verify specific preprint regulations for different journals. Only a diminishing number of journals prohibit them.
—
#### **Addressing the Fear of Being Scooped**
Some researchers are concerned that releasing a preprint might result in their findings being “scooped” (unethically replicated). However, preprints provide a **timestamp** for your work, serving as clear proof of priority. That said, if confidentiality about your research is vital, preprints may not be the ideal solution.
—
#### **When Should You Upload a Preprint?**
Best practices suggest uploading a preprint:
– **At initial journal submission**: Share the preprint concurrently with your initial submission to an academic journal.
– **After resubmissions**: If revisions are made, upload updated versions to reflect the ongoing research.
– **Upon acceptance**: Distribute a postprint, ensuring it includes all final amendments made during peer review.
—
#### **Quality Control in Preprints**
While preprints skip the peer review stage, their value is linked to the author’s professional integrity. Submitting inadequately prepared work can harm one’s credibility, therefore careful and comprehensive preparation is imperative.
—
### Key Takeaways
Preprints exemplify the principles of **open science**: accessibility, transparency, and cooperation. They are a potent tool that accelerates the communication of research and enhances academic visibility, particularly for emerging researchers. Whether you are new to preprints or hesitant to use them, contemplate the myriad advantages they provide, alongside the increasing acceptance within academic circles.
#### **Ready to Dive In? Useful Links**
– Learn more about **Pre-registration**: [Mindhacks – Pre-registration](https://mindhacks.com/2017/11/09/open-science-essentials-pre-registration/)
– Explore the **Open Science Framework (OSF)**: [Mindhacks – OSF](https://mindhacks.com/2017/11/09/open-science-essentials-the-open-science-framework/)
– Understand **Reproducibility**: [Mindhacks – Reproducibility](https://mindhacks.com/2018/01/02/open-science-essentials-reproducibility/)
Embrace preprints and play a role in fostering a more open scientific community!