Crossref posted content refers to research or academic materials that have been made publicly available online but have not yet undergone a formal peer-review and publication process.
Understanding Crossref Posted Content
Crossref is a not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to improving scholarly communications. One of its core services involves registering Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) for various types of scholarly content, ensuring persistent links and discoverability. Posted content represents a distinct category of scholarly output that is shared before or outside of traditional journal publication.
What is Included?
This category encompasses a wide range of academic and research materials that are made accessible to the public. These materials are often shared to facilitate early dissemination of research, gather feedback, or to establish priority for findings before formal publication. Examples include:
- Preprints: Early versions of scholarly articles shared on servers before they have undergone peer review.
- Eprints: Electronic copies of research papers, often deposited in institutional or subject-specific repositories.
- Working papers: Preliminary research reports circulated for discussion and comments within a specific field.
- Reports: Technical reports, project reports, or internal documents that may not be formally published in academic journals.
- Dissertations: Academic theses or dissertations, frequently made available through university digital repositories.
- Many other types of content that have been posted online but have not yet undergone or completed a formal publication process.
What is Not Included?
It is crucial to understand that not all scholarly content is categorized as Crossref posted content. Specifically, accepted manuscripts are not considered posted content within Crossref's framework. This distinction is important for how these materials are managed and indexed.
| Type of Content | Is it Crossref Posted Content? |
|---|---|
| Preprints | Yes |
| Eprints | Yes |
| Working Papers | Yes |
| Reports | Yes |
| Dissertations | Yes |
| Accepted Manuscripts | No |
Why is Posted Content Important?
Registering DOIs for posted content allows researchers to cite these materials reliably and track their usage and impact, even before formal publication or if they are never formally published. This service helps make a broader spectrum of research outputs discoverable and citable, contributing significantly to the principles of open science and increased transparency in research. For more detailed information on Crossref's documentation for posted content, you can refer to their resources here.
