postpublication

Postpublication refers to activities and evaluations that occur after a scholarly work has been published. It encompasses postpublication critique, replication efforts, data and code sharing, and formal notices such as corrections, addenda, expressions of concern, and retractions. The goal is to improve accuracy, reproducibility, and the integrity of the scholarly record through ongoing assessment beyond initial editorial peer review.

These processes apply to journal articles, preprints once publicly available, datasets, and software. They may be informal, such as reader comments or discussions on platforms, or formal, such as a journal publishing a corrigendum or an expression of concern. Postpublication review can identify errors, methodological flaws, or new supporting or conflicting data. Replication attempts and data sharing can lead to updates to conclusions without new publications.

Common mechanisms include journal or platform comments, dedicated postpublication review sites such as PubPeer, and organization-based tracking of retractions and corrections (for example, Retraction Watch). Metadata and updates are often managed through systems like Crossref, Crossmark, and ORCID to indicate changes to the record. Authors and publishers may issue errata, corrigenda, or retractions in response to identified issues.

Postpublication activity supports transparency and continuous quality control but presents challenges. Moderation, potential harassment, and inconsistencies in how platforms handle critiques and corrections can complicate interpretation. When robust, postpublication evaluation complements prepublication peer review by allowing the community to verify, refine, or revise findings over time.