COVID-19 has implications for the scholarly communication system by affecting dissemination, accessibility, quality control, and findability of research. The pandemic led to a large increase in preprint submissions as researchers sought rapid dissemination of COVID-19 findings. Preprint servers helped make research widely accessible. While traditional peer review was bypassed, some preprints received rapid or post-publication peer review. Open access publishing also increased accessibility. The value of preprint servers and next-generation search technologies was demonstrated, but literature databases not covering preprints may lose value. COVID-19 provides a strong argument for open access and shows preprints can play an important role in biomedical research dissemination.

1. COVID-19 and its implications for the scholarly
communication system
Ludo Waltman
Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS)
Leiden University
Guest lecture at Zhejiang University
July 17, 2020

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3. The scholarly
communication
system
2

4. The scholarly communication system
3
Publication of
article in journal
Submission of
article to journal
Reviewers
Authors Readers

5. 4

6. The scholarly communication system
5
Publication of
article in journal
Submission of
article to journal
Reviewers
Authors Readers
Publication of
article on
preprint server
Submission of
article to preprint
server
Rapid peer
review
Peer review of
preprints
Open access
publishing
Next generation
search technologies
Screening of
preprints

7. Implications of COVID-19 for the scholarly
communication system
• Dissemination
• Accessibility
• Quality control
• Findability
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8. Dissemination
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9. The scholarly communication system
8
Publication of
article in journal
Submission of
article to journal
Reviewers
Authors Readers
Publication of
article on
preprint server
Submission of
article to preprint
server

10. 9Source: Fraser & Kramer (https://github.com/nicholasmfraser/covid19_preprints)

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14. Accessibility
13

15. The scholarly communication system
14
Publication of
article in journal
Submission of
article to journal
Reviewers
Authors Readers
Publication of
article on
preprint server
Submission of
article to preprint
server
Open access
publishing

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19. Quality control
18

20. The scholarly communication system
19
Publication of
article in journal
Submission of
article to journal
Reviewers
Authors Readers
Publication of
article on
preprint server
Submission of
article to preprint
server
Rapid peer
review
Peer review of
preprints
Open access
publishing
Screening of
preprints

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26. Findability
25

27. The scholarly communication system
26
Publication of
article in journal
Submission of
article to journal
Reviewers
Authors Readers
Publication of
article on
preprint server
Submission of
article to preprint
server
Rapid peer
review
Peer review of
preprints
Open access
publishing
Next generation
search technologies
Screening of
preprints

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Literature databases
that don’t cover
preprints are of little
value

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34. Long-term
implications
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36. Long-term implications
• COVID-19 provides a strong case for open access to scholarly literature
• Preprint servers have (finally) proven their value in biomedical research
• Decoupling of dissemination and quality control
• Literature databases that don’t cover preprints risk losing their value
• Value of smart AI-based search technologies remains to be seen
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37. Thank you for your attention!
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