Attitudes and practices of open data, preprinting, and peer-review-A cross sectional study on Croatian scientists

Open Science in eating disorders: Using current evidence to inspire a plan for increasing the transparency of our research

OBJECTIVE

There is increasing consensus that open science practices improve the transparency and quality of clinical science. However, several barriers impede the implementation of these practices at the individual, institutional, and field levels; understanding and addressing these barriers is critical to promoting targeted efforts in increasing effective uptake of open science.

METHODS

Within this research forum, we drew from publicly available online information sources to identify initial characterizations of researchers engaged in several types of open science practices in the field of eating disorders. We use these observations to discuss potential barriers and recommendations for next steps in the promotion of these practices.

RESULTS

Data from online open science repositories suggest that individuals using these publishing approaches with pre-prints and articles with eating-disorder-relevant content are predominantly non-male gender identifying, early to mid-career stage, and are more likely to be European-, United States-, or Canada-based.

DISCUSSION

We outline recommendations for tangible ways that the eating disorder field can support broad, increased uptake of open science practices, including supporting initiatives to increase knowledge and correct misconceptions; and prioritizing the development and accessibility of open science resources.

PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

The use of open science practices has the potential to increase the transparency and quality of clinical science. This Forum uses publicly sourced online data to characterize researchers engaged in open science practices in the field of eating disorders. These observations provide an important framework from which to discuss potential barriers to open science and recommendations for next steps in the promotion of these practices.

Transparency in conducting and reporting research: A survey of authors, reviewers, and editors across scholarly disciplines

Calls have been made for improving transparency in conducting and reporting research, improving work climates, and preventing detrimental research practices. To assess attitudes and practices regarding these topics, we sent a survey to authors, reviewers, and editors. We received 3,659 (4.9%) responses out of 74,749 delivered emails. We found no significant differences between authors', reviewers', and editors' attitudes towards transparency in conducting and reporting research, or towards their perceptions of work climates. Undeserved authorship was perceived by all groups as the most prevalent detrimental research practice, while fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, and not citing prior relevant research, were seen as more prevalent by editors than authors or reviewers. Overall, 20% of respondents admitted sacrificing the quality of their publications for quantity, and 14% reported that funders interfered in their study design or reporting. While survey respondents came from 126 different countries, due to the survey's overall low response rate our results might not necessarily be generalizable. Nevertheless, results indicate that greater involvement of all stakeholders is needed to align actual practices with current recommendations.

Exploring enablers and barriers to implementing the Transparency and Openness Promotion Guidelines: a theory-based survey of journal editors

The Transparency and Openness Promotion (TOP) Guidelines provide a framework to help journals develop open science policies. Theories of behaviour change can guide understanding of why journals do (not) implement open science policies and the development of interventions to improve these policies. In this study, we used the Theoretical Domains Framework to survey 88 journal editors on their capability, opportunity and motivation to implement TOP. Likert-scale questions assessed editor support for TOP, and enablers and barriers to implementing TOP. A qualitative question asked editors to provide reflections on their ratings. Most participating editors supported adopting TOP at their journal (71%) and perceived other editors in their discipline to support adopting TOP (57%). Most editors (93%) agreed their roles include maintaining policies that reflect current best practices. However, most editors (74%) did not see implementing TOP as a high priority compared with other editorial responsibilities. Qualitative responses expressed structural barriers to implementing TOP (e.g. lack of time, resources and authority to implement changes) and varying support for TOP depending on study type, open science standard, and level of implementation. We discuss how these findings could inform the development of theoretically guided interventions to increase open science policies, procedures and practices.

Indonesian Ulema Council Fatwa on Religious Activities During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Investigation of Muslim Attitudes and Practices

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1139 Muslims in Indonesia. Attitudes and practices were assessed using a questionnaire developed by researchers referring to the main points of the Indonesian Ulema Council fatwa on religious activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings suggest that most participants held positive attitudes (86.5%) and engaged in practices (76.4%). The regression analysis also indicates that attitudes explained approximately 31.5% of the variance in the practice score and 11.2% in the practice score while controlling for gender, age, residence, and education. The study reveals that understanding the relationship between sociodemographic variables, attitudes, and practices is relevant to implementing government policies related to religious practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The composition of data economy: a bibliometric approach and TCCM framework of conceptual, intellectual and social structure

Purpose

The data economy mainly relies on the surveillance capitalism business model, enabling companies to monetize their data. The surveillance allows for transforming private human experiences into behavioral data that can be harnessed in the marketing sphere. This study aims to focus on investigating the domain of data economy with the methodological lens of quantitative bibliometric analysis of published literature.

Design/methodology/approach

The bibliometric analysis seeks to unravel trends and timelines for the emergence of the data economy, its conceptualization, scientific progression and thematic synergy that could predict the future of the field. A total of 591 data between 2008 and June 2021 were used in the analysis with the Biblioshiny app on the web interfaced and VOSviewer version 1.6.16 to analyze data from Web of Science and Scopus.

Findings

This study combined findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR) data and data economy and contributed to the literature on big data, information discovery and delivery by shedding light on the conceptual, intellectual and social structure of data economy and demonstrating data relevance as a key strategic asset for companies and academia now and in the future.

Research limitations/implications

Findings from this study provide a steppingstone for researchers who may engage in further empirical and longitudinal studies by employing, for example, a quantitative and systematic review approach. In addition, future research could expand the scope of this study beyond FAIR data and data economy to examine aspects such as theories and show a plausible explanation of several phenomena in the emerging field.

Practical implications

The researchers can use the results of this study as a steppingstone for further empirical and longitudinal studies.

Originality/value

This study confirmed the relevance of data to society and revealed some gaps to be undertaken for the future.

African researchers do not think differently about Open Data

A key motivation for Open Science is accessibility. For researchers in resource-poor economies, this translates into access to the methods, data and publications that will foster scientific research and discovery in such communities and environments. Attitudes toward Open Science are in flux, and there is a growing awareness of the roles and responsibilities that researchers have to one another in this regard. This paper explores how African researchers approach issues relating to Open Data by reporting on the State of Open Data Report data. Focusing on the attitudes toward Open Data, this paper reports on how African researchers view (i) data sharing, (ii) the use of shared data, and (iii) the Open Data ecosystem. The findings show that, although the attitudes of African researchers have changed over time, they are not very different from those held by their international counterparts. These findings will aid policymakers, as well as academic and research institutions, in highlighting the areas of future growth for Open Data in Africa.