Preprint
A version of a research paper shared publicly before formal peer review, allowing rapid dissemination of findings.
A preprint is a complete research manuscript posted to a public server before undergoing formal peer review at a journal. Major preprint servers include arXiv (physics, math, CS — founded 1991), bioRxiv (biology), medRxiv (medicine), and SSRN (social sciences). Preprints enable rapid sharing of findings — critical during events like the COVID-19 pandemic when speed of dissemination was essential. While preprints accelerate scientific communication, they lack the quality validation of peer review, leading to concerns about premature media coverage of unvetted findings.
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