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Open Research

Outlines resources and strategies to make one's research, data, and publications open.

Making your article open

Make your work open at 3 different stages of publication:

The different types of articles. Preprints, then Accepted Manuscript or Post-Print after Peer Review, then Publisher Version or Version of Record after Publication

figure by Ryan Regier, with Book icon from Benny ForsbergCC-BY 3.0

Preprints

What:

Research paper that's been uploaded to a public, online server/repository. 

Why:

  • Permits rapid dissemination of research
  • Increased attention and engagement (read further on the Nature blog)
  • Opportunity for additional feedback
  • it's free and open

How:

Post your preprint in 5 steps (ASAP Bio)

Table: Sample list of preprint repositories, related subject areas, and submission instructions (Discover more via OSF Preprints)

See also ASAP Bio's list of preprint servers: policies, and practices across platforms / COAR's Directory of Open Access Preprint Repositories

Repository

Subject area(s)​​

How

arXiv​​

Physics, Math, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering etc.​​

Submission Guidelines

bioRxiv​​

Biology​​

Submission Guide

EartharXiv​​

Earth Sciences​​

Submit

engrXiv​​

Engineering​​

Submissions

medRxiv​​

Health sciences​​

Submission Guide

MLA Commons: CORE​​

Humanities​​

Introduction to CORE
PsyArXiv Psychological Sciences Submit a Preprint

SocArXiv​​

Social Sciences​​

Submit a Paper

SSRN​​

Social Sciences, Law​​

Submit a Paper

Accepted manuscript/final version

Make your accepted manuscript open in 3 steps: 

  1. Check Sherpa/Romeo to see a journal's policies on openly archiving.
  2. Save your accepted manuscript version 
  3. Fill out the McGill eScholarship deposit form and attach your manuscript

Voila! It's live!

Make your final manuscript open

  1. Locate an open access journal in your discipline
    • Note: Many OA journals charge fees (i.e. article processing charges or APCs). 
    • Consult the publisher website for fees before submitting. 
    • See Identifying Deceptive Publishers (University of Toronto)
  2. If applicable, see McGill's list of publisher discounts for Open Access fees

Contact

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Robin Desmeules
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Contact: Website

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