What Are Preprints? What Are the Pros and Cons of Publishing Preprints?

In the world of academic research, preprints are becoming increasingly popular. But what are preprints, and what are their advantages and disadvantages? In this blog post, we will explore the ins and outs of preprints and what you should consider before publishing your research on a preprint server.

What Is the Meaning of Preprint?

A preprint refers to a manuscript or research paper that is made available online on a preprint server before undergoing the process of peer review. It is typically posted on a preprint server, which is an online platform for sharing scientific research before it has been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

What Is the Purpose of Preprints?

The purpose of preprints is to accelerate the dissemination of research findings. By making research available immediately, preprints can facilitate collaboration and feedback among researchers in real time. Moreover, preprints can aid in establishing the priority of ongoing research, which can be important in fields where there is intense competition.

What Is the Difference between Preprint and Publication/Published Article?

The main difference between a preprint and a publication/published article is that a preprint has not yet undergone peer review, whereas a publication/published article has undergone peer review before getting published in an academic journal. Peer review is a process in which experts in the field evaluate a paper to determine its scientific validity and quality. Once a paper has been peer-reviewed and accepted for publication, it will typically undergo further editing and formatting before it is published in a journal.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Publishing an Article in a Preprint Server?

Pros

1. Preprints can help to establish priority for work that is in progress, which can be important in fields where there is intense competition.
2. Preprints can facilitate collaboration and feedback among researchers in real time.
3. Preprints can help to increase the visibility of research, which can potentially result in increased citations and collaborations.
4. Preprints can be a way to get feedback on your work before it undergoes peer review.

Cons

1. Preprints have not been subjected to peer review; so, there is a possibility that they may contain unidentified errors or flaws.
2. Preprints may be seen as less rigorous than peer-reviewed publications, which could impact their credibility.
3. Preprints may not be recognized by some funding agencies or institutions as a valid form of publication.

Can a Preprint Be Published? And Do Journals Accept Preprints?

Yes, a preprint can be published and many journals now encourage authors to post preprints of their work before submitting it for peer review. However, you need to make sure that your target journal does not have policies against publishing work that has been published in a preprint server.

Are Preprints a Good Idea?

Preprints can be a good idea, especially for researchers who want to get feedback on their work before it undergoes peer review. Nonetheless, it is crucial to thoroughly consider the advantages and disadvantages before deciding to publish on a preprint server.

Does Preprint Mean Accepted?

No, a preprint does not mean acceptance. Preprints have not yet undergone peer review and should not be considered as accepted or validated until they have been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

What to Do with the Preprint Version of the Article after Getting Published?

Once a paper has been published in a peer-reviewed journal, the preprint version can still be available on the preprint server. However, it is important to update the preprint with a link to the published paper and to include a note indicating that the paper has been peer-reviewed and published in a journal. This helps to ensure that readers are aware of the final, validated version of the research.

Can Preprints Be Cited?

Yes, preprints can be cited in academic publications. In fact, citing preprints can be a useful way to acknowledge and give credit to researchers for their work before it has undergone peer review. However, when citing a preprint, it is important to provide as much information as possible to help readers locate the work. This should include the author(s), title, the name of the preprint server, the date it was posted, and a persistent identifier (such as a digital object identifier, or DOI, if available).

It is important to note that preprints are not considered to be final versions of a paper and may contain errors or flaws that have not yet been identified. Therefore, it is important to use caution when citing preprints and to clearly indicate that the work has not yet undergone peer review.

What Are Some Examples of Preprint Servers?

There are several preprint servers available for researchers to post their work. Some of the most popular preprint servers are:

arXiv

arXiv is a preprint server that was started in 1991 and is hosted by Cornell University. It primarily focuses on physics, mathematics, and computer science, but also includes papers from other fields.

bioRxiv

bioRxiv is a preprint server that was started in 2013 and is hosted by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. It primarily focuses on biology, but also includes papers from other related fields.

medRxiv

medRxiv is a preprint server that was started in 2019 and is hosted by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. It primarily focuses on medicine and related fields, such as public health and epidemiology.

PsyArXiv

PsyArXiv is a preprint server that was started in 2016 and is hosted by the Society for the Improvement of Psychological Science. It primarily focuses on psychology and related fields, such as neuroscience and cognitive science.

SocArXiv

SocArXiv is a preprint server that was started in 2016 and is hosted by the Center for Open Science. It primarily focuses on social sciences, such as sociology, political science, and anthropology.

These are just a few examples of the many preprint servers available for researchers to post their work.

Call to Action

If you are a researcher looking to get your work published in an international peer-reviewed journal, we are here to help! At Rasayely, we offer a range of services to help improve your manuscript before submission. Our team of experts can provide English editing and proofreading, manuscript formatting to match your target journal’s guidelines, paraphrasing to reduce plagiarism, translation from Arabic to English and vice versa, and assistance in submitting your manuscript to any international journal.

Don’t let the publication process hold you back! Contact us at submissions@rasayely.com to discuss how we can help improve your chances of getting your work accepted by an international journal. We look forward to hearing from you and supporting you in your academic journey.

Resources and Further Readings:

[1] What are Preprints and Why Do We Need Them? UCSF Library Help Center 2023. https://libraryhelp.ucsf.edu/hc/en-us/articles/360037549833-What-are-Preprints-and-Why-Do-We-Need-Them- (accessed June 16, 2023).

[2] How to cite preprints appropriately? ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_to_cite_preprints_appropriately (accessed June 16, 2023).

[3] Serghiou S, Ioannidis JPA. Altmetric Scores, Citations, and Publication of Studies Posted as Preprints. JAMA 2018;319:402. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2017.21168.

[4] Patel S. The Pros and Cons of Preprints. MDPI Blog 2023. https://blog.mdpi.com/2023/03/27/preprints-pros-cons/ (accessed June 16, 2023).

[5] Moshontz H, Binion G, Walton H, Brown BT, Syed M. A Guide to Posting and Managing Preprints. Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science 2021;4:25152459211019948. https://doi.org/10.1177/25152459211019948.

[6] Llewellyn M. LibGuides: Research Publishing (Open Access): Preprints (pros & cons). https://libguides.uhi.ac.uk/openaccess/preprints (accessed June 16, 2023).

[7] Levinson C. Levy Library Guides: Preprints: The Basics: Repositories and Preprint Servers. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai n.d. https://libguides.mssm.edu/preprints/servers (accessed June 16, 2023).

[8] Krumholz HM, Bloom T, Sever R, Rawlinson C, Inglis JR, Ross JS. Submissions and Downloads of Preprints in the First Year of medRxiv. JAMA 2020;324:1903–5. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.17529.

[9]  Jahng I. Research Guides: Open Access Publishing: Preprints. https://guides.library.harvard.edu/c.php?g=1097539&p=8004417 (accessed June 16, 2023).

[10] Bourne PE, Polka JK, Vale RD, Kiley R. Ten simple rules to consider regarding preprint submission. PLoS Comput Biol 2017;13:e1005473. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005473.