Research publisher Springer Nature has released a whitepaper “Exploring researcher preference for the Version of Record”, produced in collaboration with data from ResearchGate. Preprints, accepted manuscripts, and the final published version of record (VOR) signify researchers currently have access to increasing multiple versions of research papers. In its latest white paper, Springer Nature seeks to provide increased understanding into how researchers view these different versions, which they prefer to use and why.
By assessing the usage of Springer Nature content syndicated to the ResearchGate platform and undertaking a survey of nearly 1,400 ResearchGate users, it finds that about 83% of researchers prefer the article VOR over the Accepted Manuscript (AM) and preprint both for general reading and for citing in their research. They find the VOR easier to read, more reliable, and more authoritative and credible because of the reassurance provided by peer review and proof of publication. In particular, publication in a recognized journal provides the ‘stamp of credibility’ that is unavailable in earlier versions.
The whitepaper notes that where access to the article VOR is not available, the majority - nearly 9 in 10 researchers - will take direct action to gain access to the VOR. In addition, the VOR is the version of their own work authors prefer others to use.
These findings support the need to widen the availability of article VORs via the gold OA route as this provides immediate, unrestricted access to the authoritative VOR, and for continued and sustainable funding of gold OA as a critical step towards a fully open research future.
The full white paper can be downloaded here
Click here to read the original press release.
