Mapping the Preprint Landscape: A Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research Dissemination (2015–2024)

Abstract Preprints have become an increasingly important component of scholarly communication, offering rapid dissemination of research prior to formal peer review. This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of peer-reviewed, Scopus-indexed articles published between 2015 and 2024 that examine preprints, preprint platforms, and their relationship to open science. Using Bibliometrix and VOSviewer, this study analyzes 4,826 articles to identify publication trends, prolific authors, influential journals, collaboration patterns, and thematic research clusters. Results reveal a steady increase in scholarly attention toward preprints, with strong linkages to topics such as open access, research transparency, and rapid knowledge sharing. Thematic mapping highlights core research hotspots in policy development, platform infrastructure, and disciplinary differences in adoption, alongside emerging themes such as preprints in health crises and their role in equitable knowledge dissemination. The analysis also uncovers gaps in cross-disciplinary collaboration and qualitative assessments of preprint impact. Future trends point toward broader policy alignment, enhanced interdisciplinary networks, and deeper integration with open science frameworks. To accelerate adoption, stakeholders in related fields can promote preprints by raising institutional awareness, providing training on platform use, and encouraging journal and funder policies that recognize preprint contributions.