Chiarelli Andrea, Johnson Rob, Pinfield Stephen, Richens Emma
Research Consulting Limited, Nottingham, NG7 2TU, UK.
Information School, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S1 4DP, UK.
F1000Res. 2019 Jun 26;8:971. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.19619.2. eCollection 2019.
: Since 2013, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of preprint servers available online. To date, little is known about the position of researchers, funders, research performing organisations and other stakeholders with respect to this fast-paced landscape. In this article, we explore the benefits and challenges of preprint posting, along with issues such as infrastructure and financial sustainability. We also discuss the definition of a 'preprint' in different communities, and the impact this has on further uptake. : This study is based on 38 detailed semi-structured interviews of key stakeholders based on a purposive heterogeneous sampling approach. Interviews were undertaken between October 2018 and January 2019. These were recorded, transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis to identify trends. Interview questions were designed based on Innovation Diffusion Theory, which is also used to interpret the results of this study. : Our study is the first using empirical data to understand the new wave of preprint servers and found that early and fast dissemination is the most appealing feature of the practice. The main concerns are related to the lack of quality assurance and the 'Ingelfinger rule'. We identified trust as an essential enabler of preprint posting and stress the enabling role of Twitter in showcasing preprints and enabling comments on these. : The preprints landscape is evolving fast and disciplinary communities are at different stages in the innovation diffusion process. The landscape is characterised by significant experimentation, which leads to the conclusion that a one-size-fits-all approach to preprints is not feasible. Cooperation and active engagement between the stakeholders involved will play an important role in the future. In our paper, we share questions for the further development of the preprints landscape, with the most important being whether preprint posting will develop as a publisher- or researcher-centric practice.
自2013年以来，在线预印本服务器的数量急剧增加。迄今为止，对于研究人员、资助者、研究执行机构和其他利益相关者在这一快速发展的领域中的立场，我们知之甚少。在本文中，我们探讨了发布预印本的益处和挑战，以及基础设施和财务可持续性等问题。我们还讨论了不同社区中“预印本”的定义，以及这对其进一步采用的影响。
本研究基于对关键利益相关者进行的38次详细的半结构化访谈，采用了有目的的异质抽样方法。访谈于2018年10月至2019年1月期间进行。访谈内容进行了录音、转录，并进行了主题分析以识别趋势。访谈问题是基于创新扩散理论设计的，该理论也用于解释本研究的结果。
我们的研究是首次使用实证数据来理解预印本服务器的新趋势，发现早期和快速传播是这种做法最具吸引力的特征。主要担忧与缺乏质量保证和“英格尔芬格规则”有关。我们将信任确定为发布预印本的关键推动因素，并强调推特在展示预印本和允许对其进行评论方面的推动作用。
预印本领域正在迅速发展，各学科社区处于创新扩散过程的不同阶段。该领域的特点是大量的试验，这得出了一个结论，即对预印本采取一刀切的方法是不可行的。相关利益者之间的合作和积极参与将在未来发挥重要作用。在我们的论文中，我们分享了关于预印本领域进一步发展的问题，其中最重要的是预印本发布是否会发展成为一种以出版商或研究人员为中心的做法。
