Open science fundamentals in 2 minutes, segment 4
Prior to the publication of a research article in a journal, you have the opportunity to make it accessible for anyone to read at no cost. This can be done on your personal website, but also on a preprint server, like psyarxiv.com, where fellow researchers post their preprints. This platform is supported by the OSF, ensuring its longevity, and enabling easy discovery of others’ research.
For many years, preprint servers have been utilized in physics, but they are now gaining traction in various academic fields. Preprints facilitate quick distribution of your research, which is particularly beneficial for early career scholars. Preprints can be cited, and indexing services like Google Scholar will link your preprint citations to your eventual journal publication record.
Furthermore, preprints enable that work can undergo review (and mistakes rectified) prior to final publication.
What occurs when my paper is published?
Your research remains accessible in preprint format, meaning there’s a free version available, leading to increased readership and citations. If you upload a version of the manuscript after it has been accepted for publication, this is referred to as a post-print.
What is the situation regarding copyright?
Typically, journals possess the formatted, typeset version of your published work. This is why you are often restricted from uploading the PDF version to your personal website or a preprint server; however, you can upload a different version with identical text (the formatting may differ, but the content remains unchanged).
Will journals reject my paper if it has already been “published” through a preprint?
Many journals permit, or even promote preprints, while a shrinking number do not. If you are curious, specific journal policies can be researched here.
Am I at risk of being scooped?
Preprints allow you to timestamp your research prior to publication, establishing priority on your findings, which protects against being scooped. Naturally, if you’re engaged in a project where you wish to keep your work confidential until publication, preprints might not be the best option.
When is the right time to upload a preprint?
Upload a preprint when submitting to a journal, and for each subsequent submission, as well as upon acceptance (creating a postprint).
What prevents individuals from uploading subpar work to a preprint server?
There’s nothing that can stop this, but given that maintaining a reputation for high-quality work is crucial for any scholar, I wouldn’t advise it.
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