Has the Time Come for Preprints in Chemistry?

Area of Science:

• Chemistry
• Scientific Communication

Background:

• Preprints, the online sharing of non-peer-reviewed scientific articles, are increasingly adopted across natural sciences.
• Chemistry has been notably slower than other core sciences in embracing preprint culture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the reasons behind chemistry's delayed adoption of preprints.
• To analyze the current preprint landscape in chemistry.
• To forecast the future integration of preprints within the chemistry scholarly community.

Main Methods:

• Historical overview of preprint origins and purpose.
• Analysis of the current situation and adoption rates of preprints in chemistry.
• Exploration of potential correlations with open-access publishing trends.

Main Results:

• Chemistry's embrace of preprints has been gradual compared to other sciences.
• The slow acceptance of open-access publishing may be linked to chemistry's preprint adoption rate.
• The study identifies key factors influencing preprint acceptance among chemists.

Conclusions:

• Chemistry's unique characteristics may have contributed to its slower preprint adoption.
• The future of preprints in chemistry depends on addressing community-specific concerns and barriers.
• Increased preprint usage is anticipated as the benefits become more apparent to chemistry scholars.