One of the key benefits of preprints is that they are highly accessible. Published as open access, preprints are freely available online to academics and the public immediately upon publication. This increases preprints reach exponentially in both the short and long term.
In this article, we’ll explain where preprints can be found, how they can be used, and how they benefit research and academia more broadly.
What are preprints?
Preprints are early or “in-progress” versions of academic articles, made freely available online prior to peer review and publication.
Because they are published without traditional peer review, preprints aren’t typically seen as official publications. However, they are still subject to screening processes and ethical checks by trained editors. The length of this process can vary, but at Preprints.org it usually takes around 24 hours.
Due to the facilitated nature of publishing preprints, they have become increasingly popular forms of research in recent years. Indeed, preprints are accelerating scholarly communication and reaching larger audiences. Studies have demonstrated that preprints showcase higher citation and altmetric counts compared to non-deposited articles.
Additionally, preprints bring a host of benefits for authors and research and academia more broadly. We’ll touch upon those later in the article.
For now, let’s see how preprints can be accessed online.
Where are preprints found?
Preprints are published as open access and found on online preprints servers. These servers are dedicated to accelerating the reach of preprints. They produce and preserve pioneering research, giving other researchers and the public a place to access data and information before official publication.
Preprints.org is a dedicated preprint server with over 100,000 preprints immediately available. As well as being searchable on any page on our website, our preprints appear in the following places:
- Clarivate
- Europe PMC
- Crossref
- Scilit
- Google Scholar
- PrePubMed
- Share
- Dimensions
In addition to online servers such as Preprint.org, preprints are also found in the news. Preprints are a useful source of information for the news media. Media outlets are consistently on the lookout for new information to communicate to their audiences. The research found in preprints provides early insights into interesting research developments, and this information often translates into engaging and informative news stories.
Now we know where preprints can be found, what is the best way to use preprints?
How to use preprints
Preprints can be used by authors in many beneficial ways to improve both the reach and quality of research. Let’s take a look at some of them.
Facilitate research dissemination
The traditional peer review process is long, often taking months. In addition, the process can consist of several rounds of feedback, further lengthening the publication process.
For researchers, these delays can feel costly, especially within the fast-moving field of open science. Research often needs to retain a sense of momentum to best impact academia and beyond. By bypassing delays commonly associated with peer review, important research can enter the academic community and promote positive developments quickly.
Establishing research priority
Establishing research priority is tied to facilitating research dissemination.
Every author’s dream is to be the first to publish on a specific topic within their research area. Preprints enable authors to fill knowledge gaps in their subject areas at a much quicker rate, allowing them to establish themselves within their respective research niches before others.
Establishing research priority also helps safeguard your work against “scooping”. This is where researchers or research groups publish another author’s ideas first. Publishing a preprint not only gets a researcher’s work out fast, but it also serves as a legitimate timestamp, ensuring that they are appropriately credited and acknowledged.
Receiving early feedback
Attractive to researchers is the early feedback that can be gained from publishing a preprint.
Not inhibited by traditional peer review, preprints open up the reviewing process. They invite researchers and readers to leave feedback on the current state of the research. This means that researchers, instead of committing their work to external consultants, can receive constructive criticism from various sources. Furthermore, they are free to integrate this feedback into their work whenever they wish.
Benefits of preprints for research and academia
We can see how preprints benefit authors who want to get their research out quickly and first. But how do preprints benefit research and academia more broadly?
Well, firstly, preprints help advance the knowledge base for many disciplines. Progress in research, especially in science, is dependent on previous theories or models being disproven or updated. Preprints facilitate this process, allowing research to quickly enter the academic ecosystem, thus bringing forward constructive discussions surrounding certain challenges.
Additionally, preprints reach is a proven measure of impact. The open access model that supports the publication of preprints ensures that the visibility of research is improved. Take for example the visibility of researchers who have chosen to publish with Preprints.org. Since 2016, over 350,000 researchers have been published, with 77.2 million downloads and 22.1 million views across all preprints.
Do you have a preprint to share with the world?
At Preprints.org, we empower researchers to freely and instantly share their work with a global audience, helping you gain early feedback, boost visibility, and accelerate discovery. Join over 350,000 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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