So now you’ve learnt how to read papers. ~1 million papers are published annually but even then you may not find what you are looking for when it comes to latest research. What are the latest projects people are working on? Is anyone working to answer a specific problem? Is this information available openly? Do you need to have written a paper to share and get credit for your work?
In this last lesson, we end by looking at other sources of research: data and code repositories, micropublications, preprints and research proposals.
Repositories are what they sound: databases where people can submit code or data in the form of sheets, notes, images. Most repositories have evolved for content for a specialized field and it can be hard to find what you need in a broad search. The two most common discovery use cases are: 1. someone shares the repository link with you or 2. you accidentally discover the link and check periodically for new research. Content in repositories has not undergone formal peer review but may be highly rated by viewers. Comprehensive lists for repos can be found in re3data.org and opendoar.org.
Micropublication usually refers to a single published figure or finding as opposed to papers that multi-figure and build an argument using multiple findings. A micropublication is a mini-paper which has been peer-reviewed.
Learn more about peer-review and finally about preprints in the video above (ASAPbio.org CC BY 4.0). For more detailed discussion see Joe Akin’s blogpost. The NIH also accepts research proposals as interim research products. This can tell you how a scientist plans to address a question. The value of this is discussed in depth here. Lifescience preprints can be found at prepubmed.org.
Are you a citizen scientist, reader, editor, librarian, patient, caregiver or early career student who wants to share their own data or insights? You can find a field specific repository using the above resources or write to us for help at contactrefigure@gmail.com.
You may think “why don’t I just post it on social media or my blog”. While the former (and possibly the latter if you have great traffic) really helps (and may even be needed) to promote discussion of your data, the research community really relies on being able to find resources permanently and with version control (knowing if you have made any changes) and being able to cite it. This is best achieved by using established repositories which have robust archiving and allot a unique identifier to your submission called a digital object identifier (DOI). Further, you have to keep in mind whether you have the right to post the research-did you work in a team? Do you have a supervisor whose permission you need? In most cases, the answer to this question would be in the affirmative.
Previous links|Introduction | Week 1: Open Access and Introduction to Scientific Papers | Week 2: Let’s start reading papers and creating research outputs! | Week 3: Tools and strategies to find papers and save your literature review | Week 4: Are you too inexperienced to start building a science identity? | Week 5: Reproducibility of scientific findings, Part 1 | Week 5: Reproducibility of scientific findings, Part 2
