Research concepts
Preprints and peer-reviewed versions: what changes
Preprints and peer-reviewed publications: What changed between the version I read and the version I cite?
Source editorial review:
Before interpreting the result
What changed between the version I read and the version I cite?
- Keep the identifier, date and version of both documents.
- Compare the sample, exclusions, analyses, estimates and relevant figures.
- Update your own claim when a change affects its support.
Preprints and peer-reviewed publications
Editorial status indicates a document's publication history, not a guarantee that its conclusion is correct. A preprint makes work available before journal review is consolidated; a peer-reviewed publication still requires evaluation of methods and data. Later versions can change analyses, figures or conclusions, making date and version identifier part of a useful citation.
A reading case: what to check
Before incorporating a result into a reference page, check whether the preprint has a published version and compare the point you intend to cite. If the conclusion changed, do not combine an earlier figure with a newer interpretation. Record which version you read and which supports your text. If only a preprint exists, label it explicitly and retain the design's limitations.
What to preserve in the record
Peer review does not remove the need to read the methods. When citing the final publication, represent that version rather than a stronger conclusion taken from the preprint.
Questions and answers
What changed between the version I read and the version I cite?
Editorial status indicates a document's publication history, not a guarantee that its conclusion is correct. A preprint makes work available before journal review is consolidated; a peer-reviewed publication still requires evaluation of methods and data. Later versions can change analyses, figures or conclusions, making date and version identifier part of a useful citation.
What should the review record preserve?
Peer review does not remove the need to read the methods. When citing the final publication, represent that version rather than a stronger conclusion taken from the preprint.