Motivations, concerns and selection biases when posting preprints: a survey of bioRxiv authors

Abstract

Since 2013, the usage of preprints as a means of sharing research in biology has rapidly grown, in particular via the preprint server bioRxiv. Recent studies have found that journal articles that were previously posted to bioRxiv received a higher number of citations or mentions/shares on other online platforms compared to articles in the same journals that were not posted. However, the exact causal mechanism for this effect has not been established, and may in part be related to authors' biases in the selection of articles that are chosen to be posted as preprints. We aimed to investigate this mechanism by conducting a mixed-methods survey of 1,444 authors of bioRxiv preprints, to investigate the reasons that they post or do not post certain articles as preprints, and to make comparisons between articles they choose to post and not post as preprints. We find that authors are most strongly motivated to post preprints to increase awareness of their work and increase the speed of its dissemination; conversely, the strongest reasons for not posting preprints centre around a lack of awareness of preprints and reluctance to publicly post work that has not undergone a peer review process. We additionally find weak evidence that authors preferentially select their highest quality, most novel or most significant research to post as preprints, however, authors retain an expectation that articles they post as preprints will receive more citations or be shared more widely online than articles not posted.

The experiences of COVID-19 preprint authors: a survey of researchers about publishing and receiving feedback on their work during the pandemic

“…This result aligns well with previous studies. Fraser, Mayr & Peters (2021) conducted a survey of authors of bioRxiv preprints and found that for more than 85% of survey participants the main motivations for preprinting their work were to share their findings more quickly and to increase awareness of their research. In a survey conducted by ASAPbio (2020) , more than two thirds of 500 surveyed preprint authors and non-authors mentioned “increasing the speed of research communication” and “preprints are free to read” as the main benefits of preprints.…”

“…The increasing adoption of preprinting has raised questions regarding the motivations of authors who choose to engage in preprinting. Multiple studies have surveyed or interviewed preprint authors, research funding representatives, research-conducting organisations, and other stakeholders ( ASAPbio, 2020 ; Chiarelli et al, 2019 ; Fraser, Mayr & Peters, 2021 ). These studies consistently identified the rapid dissemination of research outputs as the primary motivation for preprint adoption among participants.…”

“…These studies consistently identified the rapid dissemination of research outputs as the primary motivation for preprint adoption among participants. Additionally, Fraser, Mayr & Peters (2021) reported that preprint authors increasingly cited the enhanced visibility of their research as a motivation for preprint posting. Similarly, ASAPbio (2020) found that the majority of their respondents were motivated by the free accessibility of preprints.…”

An International, Cross-Sectional Survey of Preprinting Attitudes Among Biomedical Researchers

“…Interestingly, despite many respondents distrusting preprints due to lack of peer review, many were divided on if peer review should become part of the preprint process. This may be because preprints allow for the rapid dissemination of research as there is a delay from journal submission to publication when undergoing peer review 2,6 . If peer review were to be incorporated into preprinting in the same way it is done for journals, then the work of peer reviewers would increase, and the delay would become much longer.…”

Preprints in Health Professions Education: Raising Awareness and Shifting Culture

“…In addition, compared with more established researchers, early-career researchers place more value on the opportunities preprints provide for receiving feedback and raising awareness about their research. 7 Because research outputs are free to post and read, preprints offer a more affordable way for early-career researchers, who are less likely to have funds to cover article processing charges, to participate in open science. In addition, preprints are freely accessible, providing for wider and fairer reach.…”