As a researcher, publishing work is a necessary component of establishing yourself. However, beyond simply publishing work, there’s something else every researcher hopes to do, and that’s establish priority of discovery. Publishing a preprint help researchers do just that.
Preprints are early or “in-progress” versions of research, made freely available online prior to peer review and publication. They allow researchers to openly share work with the scientific community by bypassing traditional peer review.
In the process, researchers can establish priority of discovery and receive community feedback to validate their findings.
Why researchers want to establish priority of discovery
Science is about discovery. With new research, new theories and data can be identified and established, challenging outdated models and advancing the knowledge base.
At the forefront of the discoveries behind science are the researchers themselves. And to establish priority of discovery for these researchers is hugely attractive. But what is priority of discovery exactly, and why do researchers aim to achieve it?
For a researcher to achieve priority of discovery means that the researcher or team responsible for a scientific finding receives appropriate credit and recognition for their work (even if others independently replicate their findings later).
Researchers want to establish priority of discovery for many reasons. Recognition and prestige, career advancement, funding, personal and communal satisfaction, and foundations for further research are all incentives for establishing priority of discovery.
Establishing priority of discovery involves two stages: disclosure and validation. Let’s look at those closer.
The role of disclosure
The disclosure stage involves any discoveries being released to the global scientific community.
Disclosure is important in two ways. One, it gives the author and their research credibility. Two, it ensures transparency in scientific communication, maintaining public trust in the process.
Generally, appropriate disclosure should fulfil the four criteria:
- Inclusion and interpretation of data;
- Full description of the methodologies used;
- Communication of findings using a recognizable, stable platform;
- Clear timestamp to demonstrate when the work was first shared.
Preprint servers like Preprints.org allow researchers to fulfil all the above requirements. Preprints.org is a service that is dedicated to making early versions of research outputs permanently available and citable. Researchers can publish their data and methodologies as open access, immediately disclosing their findings without being limited by peer review processes and access barriers. In this way, criteria 1–3 are met by publishing a preprint on Preprints.org.
The fourth criterion is vital to fulfil if you’re a researcher wanting to establish priority of discovery. The publication of a preprint serves as a legitimate timestamp for researchers, ensuring that their work isn’t “scooped” by others.
The validation process
The validation process occurs after the preprint goes through an initial screening phase followed by publication online. This is a period when the accuracy, quality, and the significance of the research is evaluated by the scientific community. It matters little if a discovery is simply disclosed; that discovery needs to be verified and given authority by other experts in the field.
The purpose of the validation process is to provide an open framework for feedback. Other researchers are free to post comments and suggestions directly onto the preprint page. For researchers, this is a much faster method of receiving feedback than traditional peer review.
Another benefit is that publishing a preprint provides an insight into public and community perceptions of your research, which peer review fails to do. Your audience is much broader than one or two experts.
Furthermore, due to the open nature of preprints, they are easy to share on social media channels, giving greater insight into audience reception of the work.
Researchers can also integrate community feedback and update their work. As their work evolves, researchers are free to upload new versions of their manuscript, a process called “versioning.” This keeps research organic and receptive to new developments.
Ultimately, validation from the community takes time. It can manifest in the form of high citation numbers and sustained engagement online. The validation and feedback received on a piece of research can then go on to inform the finished publication, which may be submitted to peer review by the researcher.
Young researchers and establishing priority of discovery through preprints
Establishing priority of discovery is important for acknowledgement and career advancement, especially for young researchers.
As a young researcher, establishing priority of discovery comes with added obstacles. These include intense competition to publish in journals, gatekeeping, rigorous and slow peer review, career pressures leading to risk-averse publishing strategies, and lack of established networks to help spread discoveries.
Preprints overturn most of these obstacles due to the democratic and supportive nature of the publishing model. The bypassing of lengthy peer review processes and the utilization of the open access model helps young researchers establish priority of discovery through preprints. The screening process at Preprints.org takes less than one business day in most cases, meaning research can be disseminated online within 24 hours after submission.
After publication of their preprint, young researchers are supported through the validation process. The open nature of leaving comments on preprints means that young researchers aren’t at a disadvantage if they lack established networks. Preprints are highly accessible and thus receive increased visibility, with over 88 million downloads since 2016 on Preprints.org. And they can be instantly shared across social media channels.
Due to their ease of access and propensity to establish scientific discoveries, preprints often make news headlines too. For young researchers, such an event can help them establish their name within the academic publishing scene.
Establish priority of discovery with Preprints.org
Want to establish priority of discovery with your research? 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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