Open Science Fundamentals in 2 Minutes, Part 4
Prior to the publication of a research article in a journal, you have the option to make it accessible for anyone to read without charge. You can do this on your personal website, but you may also utilize a preprint server like psyarxiv.com, where fellow researchers also publish their preprints, supported by the OSF, ensuring its longevity and facilitating the discovery of others’ research.
Preprint servers have been utilized in physics for many years but are increasingly becoming prevalent in other academic fields. Preprints enable swift distribution of your research, which is particularly crucial for those in the early stages of their careers. Preprints are citable, and indexing platforms such as Google Scholar will connect your preprint citations with the record of your final journal publication.
Preprints also allow for the review of work (and identification of errors) before it is officially published.
What occurs when my paper is published?
Your work remains accessible in preprint format, meaning there is a non-paywalled version available, leading to greater readership and citations. If you upload a version of the manuscript after it receives acceptance for publication, that version is referred to as a post-print.
What about copyright?
In general, journals retain ownership of the formatted, typeset version of your published manuscript. This is why you are often restricted from uploading the PDF of this version to your own website or a preprint server, but there is no prohibition against uploading a version with the same content (thus the formatting may differ, while the information remains unchanged).
Will journals reject my paper if it is already “published” on a preprint server?
Most journals permit or even promote preprints. A shrinking minority do not. If you wish, you can look up specific journal policies here.
Will I be scooped?
Preprints enable you to timestamp your work prior to publication, serving to establish your precedence on findings, which helps protect against being scooped. However, if you have a project where you prefer to keep your work confidential until publication, preprints may not be the best choice.
When should I submit a preprint?
Upload a preprint at the time of journal submission, and for each subsequent submission and upon acceptance (creating a postprint).
What prevents individuals from uploading poorly done research to a preprint server?
There is no mechanism to stop this, but since your reputation for producing quality work is one of the most critical assets a scholar possesses, I do not advise it.
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