### Open Science Essentials in 2 Minutes, Part 4: Preprints and Postprints
The academic publishing environment is transforming, with open science strategies such as utilizing preprints becoming ever more crucial for researchers. This article highlights the key aspects of preprints and postprints—a method that promotes equitable access to research while hastening the spread of knowledge.
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### What Are Preprints?
A **preprint** represents a version of your research manuscript that is publicly accessible prior to its formal publication in a peer-reviewed journal. Instead of hosting the document on your own site, uploading it to a **preprint server** such as [PsyArXiv](http://psyarxiv.com/) is advisable. These platforms form part of systems like the [Open Science Framework (OSF)](https://mindhacks.com/2017/11/09/open-science-essentials-the-open-science-framework/), which ensure sustained access and visibility.
Preprint servers, historically used in disciplines like physics, are now becoming popular in various other fields. They facilitate **swift sharing** of research outcomes, which is vital for early career academics striving to make their mark. Preprints can be cited, and platforms like **Google Scholar** track citations, combining them with those of the officially published version when it is released.
### Advantages of Preprints
1. **Quicker Dissemination:** Instantly share your discoveries with the community instead of waiting months for a journal’s publication.
2. **Initial Feedback:** Preprints enable community input and critique before the final peer review, helping to identify mistakes or enhance the work.
3. **Enhanced Accessibility:** They provide a **non-paywalled** version of your research, broadening its reach and visibility.
4. **Establishing Priority:** By having a preprint, you establish precedence for your discoveries, protecting against being “scooped.”
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### What About After Publication?
Once your paper is accepted by a journal, your preprint can still be available, ensuring that a free version of your work is accessible. Many researchers choose to upload postprints, which are revised versions of a manuscript that incorporate peer-review feedback but lack the journal’s final formatting.
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### Addressing Common Concerns
#### **Copyright Issues**
Journal publishers typically hold the rights to the final, formatted version of your paper (such as the PDF). Nonetheless, you are generally permitted to upload a manuscript with the same text but in a different format to a preprint server. This allows your findings to be publicly accessible without breaching copyright.
#### **Journal Policies**
A frequent misconception is that journals will not accept papers that have been previously shared as preprints. In fact, [most leading journals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_academic_journals_by_preprint_policy) permit or even promote preprints. For verification, you can research specific journal policies using resources like [Sherpa/RoMEO](http://www.sherpa.ac.uk/romeo/index.php).
#### **Fear of Being Scooped**
A preprint can safeguard you by timestamping your work, reinforcing your claim to priority. However, if confidentiality is essential for your project, you might opt to forgo preprints in those specific situations.
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### When to Upload a Preprint
The most opportune moments are:
– **Upon submission** to a journal.
– **After revisions** for resubmissions.
– **Upon acceptance**, transitioning it into a postprint.
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### Quality Concerns: What’s Stopping “Rubbish”?
In theory, anyone can submit subpar work to a preprint server, but remember that a scholar’s reputation hinges on the quality of their research. It is vital to uphold high standards, as inferior preprints will negatively impact the author’s reputation.
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### Final Thoughts
Preprints serve as a foundation for open science, equipping researchers with tools to share their findings promptly and broadly while ensuring universal accessibility. By adopting preprint practices, you contribute to a culture of transparency, cooperation, and innovation within academia.
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### Useful Links in the Series
1. [Pre-registration](https://mindhacks.com/2017/11/09/open-science-essentials-pre-registration/)
2. [The Open Science Framework](https://mindhacks.com/2017/11/09/open-science-essentials-the-open-science-framework/)
3. [Reproducibility](https://mindhacks.com/2018/01/02/open-science-essentials-reproducibility/)
By embracing preprints and postprints, you enhance the visibility of your work while contributing to a worldwide movement that promotes fairness and openness in science.