The increased use of open access publishing has brought preprints to the forefront of open science. Readers are able to view and cite preprints sooner and with more ease than with traditional publishing models. This means that the impact of that research begins even before it appears in a peer-reviewed journal.
Preprints offer an early boost in availability and engagement ahead of a published version. Posting a preprint can be a first step to sharing academic ideas. It’s not an endpoint, but instead the beginning of the life of a publication.
As you will see in this article, there are benefits to showing your work earlier in the publication process. The sooner it’s available, the sooner you can receive feedback, establish research priority, and make your work citable earlier.
Preprints boosting research impact
So, how can preprints boost research impact before journal publication?
The idea of research impact itself can be expansive. Impact factor and number of citations are two important ways that the reach and impact of academic work can be measured. However, there is more to consider. Impact can also mean things like level of engagement with peers, reuse of the research, and community discussions and collaboration.
There are different avenues to increasing research impact, including the following:
- Visibility and citations;
- Feedback;
- Scoop protection;
- Career advantages.
It’s clear that preprints offer benefits. Their early and open accessibility increases the availability and transparency of scientific practice. And the model of open feedback increases transparency and, ultimately, the quality of academic work. Proponents recommend integrating preprints into the broader publication strategy within the academic community.
Visibility and citations
Enhancing the visibility of academic work means making it accessible to a wide range of readers. The open access model of preprints allows for research to be viewed and used by as many people as possible. Work is available to readers as soon as it’s posted in the repository, typically within 48 hours of submission.
On average, preprints are posted about 14 months earlier than a peer-reviewed paper. As a result, scholars can gain early citations, garnering interest before journal publication. And it can continue to gain momentum through the peer review and revisions process.
Another key measure of visibility and impact is the number of citations for a particular paper. Preprints can give authors an edge in this area.
One study shows that preprints can have a significant impact on the citation rates of publications. Articles posted as preprints pre-publication received 7 citations per page, compared to 4 citations per page without a preprint version. Another study shows that, after 3 years of publication, articles that started off as preprints received about 1.62 times more citations.
Feedback
Receiving feedback on academic work at all stages helps scholars to improve their research and writing skills. With a preprint, scholars can crowdsource ways to strengthen their manuscripts through community comments. This can also help review and formal publications.
In addition to making your work freely available to a general audience, a targeted approach can also be important. Focusing on certain academic communities to share your work with can help to solicit expert feedback.
By the time of publication, authors will have already received months of engagement. This helps the research not become stagnant during the often lengthy publication process.
Preprints are a space where scholars can engage at all stages of their careers. So, in addition to soliciting feedback for your own work, you are encouraged to return the favour, using FAST principles as a guide.
Scoop protection
There is an understandable concern that sharing work before it is peer reviewed comes with certain risks. However, the potential for work to be “scooped” by another scholar can be alleviated by establishing priority early. Publishing your work with a DOI timestamps your work. This can be especially relevant in fast-moving and competitive fields.
Being able to establish priority of discovery can impacts trajectory of early-career researchers. A priority claim in a preprint can set the stage for a future publication that can make a big impact.
In addition, the open access availability of preprints means that they are easier to share on virtual platforms. This includes non-academic sites like social media, which are used by a more diverse audience.
Career advantages
Building a reputation as a credible researcher and author takes time and a lot of effort. For early-career researchers, preprints are one way to build their CV and a professional profile in the academic sphere.
In addition to posting their own work, junior scholars are also encouraged to comment on that of others. It’s a good place to practice reviewing and offering constructive criticism on research. And more senior or experienced scholars can receive comments from those newer to the field, who may be able to offer a different perspective.
The more you get your name and ideas out there, the more opportunities for networking and collaboration. Participating in an open commenting forum like Preprints.org can connect you with scholars in your field(s) of interest. Learning from someone with more experience can be very valuable, and could be the start of a future collaboration.
To be sure, formal publication is a core component of the reach and impact of scientific research. By sharing a preprint, however, you can start the clock a bit earlier. More eyes on your work boosts engagement, increasing its visibility and potential to gain citations. And the best part is that all this happens before publication.
Broadening Research Visibility with Preprints.org
Looking to broaden research visibility early? At Preprints.org, we empower researchers to freely and instantly share their work with a global audience across disciplines, helping you gain early feedback, boost visibility, and accelerate discovery. Join over 400,000 researchers advancing open science on our accessible, multidisciplinary platform. Ready to submit? Upload your preprint today and make your work quickly discoverable.
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