**Open Science Fundamentals in 2 Minutes, Section 4**
Prior to the publication of a research article in a journal, you have the option to make it accessible for free to anyone interested. This can be done on your own website, or alternatively, on a preprint server like [psyarxiv.com](http://psyarxiv.com), where fellow researchers also post their preprints. This is facilitated by the [OSF](https://mindhacks.com/2017/11/09/open-science-essentials-the-open-science-framework/), ensuring straightforward access to the research of others.
Preprint servers, which have been utilized in physics for many years, are increasingly embraced by the academic community, aiding in the swift dissemination of research, which is vital for researchers in the early stages of their careers. Preprints are citable, and platforms such as Google Scholar aggregate citations alongside the eventual journal publication. They allow for preliminary review and correction of errors before the final release.
**What occurs when my article is published?**
Your preprint stays accessible, providing a version without paywalls, which boosts readership and citation counts. Uploading the accepted manuscript version is referred to as a post-print.
**What about intellectual property rights?**
Typically, journals possess the formatted version of your manuscript, limiting your ability to upload its PDF to other platforms, though you can distribute versions that maintain the same content but differ in formatting.
**Will journals reject my article if it is already “published” via a preprint?**
[The majority of journals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_academic_journals_by_preprint_policy) either permit or promote preprints. A few do not. Verify journal policies [here](http://www.sherpa.ac.uk/romeo/index.php).
**Am I at risk of being scooped?**
Preprints provide a timestamp for your work, establishing priority and safeguarding against being scooped. Nonetheless, if confidentiality is essential, preprints may not be the best option.
**When should I post a preprint?**
Upload it during journal submission, with each resubmission, and upon acceptance as a postprint.
**What prevents individuals from uploading subpar content to a preprint server?**
There are no barriers to this, but maintaining a reputation for high-quality work is essential for academics.
**Useful links:**
Part of a 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/)