Post-publication discussion

Post‑publication discussion refers to the ongoing evaluation, critique, and dialogue that take place after a scientific paper has been published. It includes activities such as public commentary, formal critiques, replication attempts, corrections, and author responses. Post‑publication discussion is essential because it keeps science self‑correcting, transparent, and continuously improving. It ensures that published research is not treated as final truth but as part of an ongoing, collaborative process of knowledge building.

Response letters

To facilitate such discussions, the TSR offers the response letter publication format. The preparation of a response letter is carried out in cooperation with a journal editor, who guides and moderates the process. Once the response letter is published, the authors receive a formal notification from the journal and are encouraged—though not required—to provide a public reply. Read more about the response letter format here.

External platforms

Alternatively, readers may use external platforms for post‑publication discussions.

For example, PubPeer is an online journal club that allows scientists to comment, publicly or anonymously, on published research papers. The TSR provides a link to the PubPeer discussion alongside each published paper. Notifications about existing comments are not integrated with the journal system, however readers may enhance their experience by installing the PubPeer browser extension.

Opinions expressed on PubPeer belong solely to their authors and should not be interpreted as statements of fact or as endorsements by the journal. Readers are encouraged to review both the article and the associated discussion critically.

 Allegations of misconduct

Finally, the journal has a formal procedure for investigating allegations of misconduct, which primarily addresses suspected unethical behaviour by authors. Read more about it here.