Key aspects of open science in just 2 minutes, part 4
Prior to the publication of a research article in a journal, you have the option to make it publicly accessible for anyone to read. You can do this on your personal website, or alternatively, you can utilize a preprint server like psyarxiv.com, where fellow researchers also distribute their preprints. This is supported by the OSF, which ensures its longevity, and enables you to easily discover others’ research.
Preprint servers have been utilized in physics for many years, but are now gaining traction throughout other academic fields. Preprints facilitate quick sharing of your research, which is particularly beneficial for researchers in the early stages of their careers. Preprints can also be cited, and indexing services such as Google Scholar will merge your preprint citations with the record of your future journal publication.
Preprints also provide an opportunity for work to be reviewed (and mistakes to be corrected) prior to the final publication.
What occurs when my paper is published?
Your research remains available in preprint format, meaning there exists a version without paywalls, leading to a wider readership and citations. Should you upload a version of the manuscript after acceptance for publication, this is referred to as a post-print.
What about copyright issues?
Generally, journals possess the formatted, typeset version of your published manuscript. Consequently, you are often restricted from uploading the PDF to your website or a preprint server, but you can upload a version with identical text (although the formatting will differ, the content remains the same).
Will journals reject my paper if it has already been “published” as a preprint?
Most journals permit, or even advocate for preprints. An increasingly small number do not. If you’re curious, you can investigate specific journal policies here.
Am I at risk of being scooped?
Preprints allow you to time-stamp your work before publication, serving as a means to establish priority on findings and protecting against being scooped. However, if you have a project for which you prefer to keep your work confidential until it is published, preprints may not be ideal.
When is the right time to upload a preprint?
Upload a preprint when submitting to a journal, and for each subsequent submission and upon acceptance (creating a postprint).
What prevents people from uploading low-quality work to a preprint server?
There is no mechanism to prohibit this, but since maintaining a reputation for quality work is crucial for any scholar, I would advise against it.
Helpful links:
Part of a series: