ArXiving Before Submission Helps Everyone
This addresses the problem of research accessibility and fairness for scientists, particularly early-career researchers, by advocating for preprint policies.
The paper argues that allowing arXiv publication before conference or journal submission benefits researchers, especially early-career ones, and the scientific community by aiding professional identity, protecting against idea theft, and reducing inequality, with drawbacks being marginal.
We claim, and present evidence, that allowing arXiv publication before a conference or journal submission benefits researchers, especially early career, as well as the whole scientific community. Specifically, arXiving helps professional identity building, protects against independent re-discovery, idea theft and gate-keeping; it facilitates open research result distribution and reduces inequality. The advantages dwarf the drawbacks -- mainly the relative increase in acceptance rate of papers of well-known authors -- which studies show to be marginal. Analyzing the pros and cons of arXiving papers, we conclude that requiring preprints be anonymous is nearly as detrimental as not allowing them. We see no reasons why anyone but the authors should decide whether to arXiv or not.