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Preprints

Definition

A preprint is a draft of a research paper that is shared publicly before it is peer reviewed and published in an academic journal.  Preprints are posted on publicly available online preprint servers.  Normally preprints are assigned a DOI (digital object indentifier) so they are easy to track.

Benefits

  • Promotes the rapid and open sharing of research
  • Helps to establish credit  for discovery and ideas..
  • Provides opportunity for feedback that can lead to changes and improvements in the final published version.
  • Increases citations to the research once it is published in a journal. (Fu DY, Hughey JJ., eLife,  2019)
  • Facilitates the discovery of research collaborators and broadens professional connections.

Disadvantages

  • Some journals may not accept article submissions for research that has been published as a preprint.  Before posting a preprint check the following resource  to determine the publishing policies for journals that are being considered for article submission.
  • Lack of peer review can make it difficult for the public and the media to evaluate the quality and validity of the research.

Preprinting guide

Citing preprints

Recommendations for authors

            Authors should choose preprint archives that have the following  characteristics:

  • Clearly identify preprints as work that is not peer reviewed.
  • Require authors to document disclosures of interest.
  • Require authors to indicate funding source(s).
  • Have a clear process for preprint archive users to notify archive administrators about concerns related to posted preprints—a public commenting feature is desirable for this purpose.
  •  Maintain metadata for preprints that are withdrawn  from posting and post withdrawal notices indicating the timing and reason for withdrawal of a preprint.
  • Have a mechanism for authors to indicate when the preprint article has been subsequently published in a peer-reviewed journal.