For more than 30 years, preprints have been part of the publishing landscape in engineering and other research fields. They became widely accepted within the research community in 2020, following the COVID-19 pandemic. Preprint open-access manuscripts, or manuscripts yet to undergo official peer review, are now an integral part of scientific publishing. They are published on preprint servers and are widely accessible to the public without any restrictions. This enables researchers to share their findings with the global scientific community and receive feedback before formally submitting the work to a target journal. Some of the key benefits of preprints include rapid accessibility, timely dissemination of research, contributions to the scientific field, and feedback from peers, which will be discussed in more detail in this blog.

Working Mechanism of Research Preprints

• Preprints are not subject to the formal peer review process before publication. After undergoing basic checks (e.g., plagiarism, formatting, and adherence to submission guidelines), authors can post their manuscripts on preprint servers.
• Authors can assign unique Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) to preprints to improve the reachability and credibility of the presented information.
• Anyone can freely access manuscripts available on preprint servers.
• Authors can make changes to the preprint available online, but the previous variations will remain accessible to the reader.
• Preprint servers can be maintained by both non-profit communities and pro-profit publishers. 

Benefits of Preprints for Researchers 

Below are several key benefits of preprints in the scholarly communication of research papers:

• Researchers get faster results

Researchers from engineering and other fields often rely on preprints for quick publication results. By publishing initial drafts of their research papers, they can receive valuable feedback. This helps identify potential flaws before submitting the final version. Additionally, they may gain recommendations for new research approaches from their peers.

• Timely recognition of innovative research

The traditional peer review process before publication can take a significant amount of time, ranging from several months to years. With preprints, researchers can receive early credit for their work. Preprints are especially useful to publishers when major delays are expected in the review process, or when similar findings are published before the full research paper.

• Preprints can be cited

Researchers can easily cite preprints because they are assigned a unique digital object identifier (DOI), providing a permanent online source. Since preprints are citable, researchers can include them in their bibliographies or reference lists, just as they would with peer-reviewed articles.

• Improved visibility

Preprints, typically published under an open access license, are freely accessible, increasing the dissemination of research among other researchers without barriers. This ensures the research reaches a broader, more relevant audience.

• Access to research version history

Preprints allow researchers to track the history of any manuscript. They can view its development and see how many times it has been revised by the authors. Preprints also offer insight into the changes or improvements made during the peer review process.

Specific Benefits for Engineering Researchers

Preprints offer significant advantages for engineering researchers by enabling faster knowledge sharing and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Engineering fields, such as AI, robotics, and renewable energy, evolve rapidly, and preprints provide a platform for researchers to disseminate their findings immediately, thus reducing delays in the innovation cycle. By sharing preliminary data, engineers can receive timely feedback, helping them refine their ideas and designs.

Quite often, engineering research problems require collaboration across multiple disciplines, to solve complex challenges. Preprints encourage collaboration by allowing researchers from different fields to access and build on each other's work quickly. This accelerates the development of new technologies and solutions, ultimately driving innovation and addressing multifaceted engineering challenges more efficiently.

Limitations of Preprints

• Quality concerns: Preprints are not subjected to peer review or formal scrutiny before publication, raising concerns about their reliability and relevance. They should always be interpreted with significant caution.
• Publishing misleading information: Due to a lack of quality control and free researcher dissemination on open-access platforms, it can become a misleading medium for someone who wants to publish fraudulent scientific claims.
• Might damage the author’s reputation: Preprints bypass the peer review process, which typically serves as a safeguard to improve articles and filter out low-quality work before publication. Without this review, poor-quality preprints that are publicly available can negatively impact the authors' reputation.
• ​Excessive information: The increase in preprints across most research fields, including engineering, is leading to information overload, making it difficult for researchers to discover and analyze relevant, credible information.

The Future of Preprints in Engineering Research

Growing Adoption: Preprint servers are increasingly being embraced by engineering researchers, promoting rapid dissemination of findings and fostering collaboration within the community.

Impact on Traditional Journals: The rise of preprints challenges traditional peer-reviewed journals, potentially leading to more flexible submission processes and innovative review practices to maintain relevance in the evolving landscape.

Shaping Future Research: By enabling the swift sharing of preliminary findings, preprints can accelerate advancements in engineering research, facilitate community feedback, and enhance the overall quality of published work.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, preprints play a pivotal role in the future of engineering research by promoting swift dissemination of findings, impacting traditional peer-reviewed journals, and shaping the research landscape. Their increasing adoption is vital for fostering collaboration and driving innovation within the field. Engaging with preprint culture allows researchers to enhance the accessibility and influence of their work in advancing engineering knowledge.