Open Science, Closed Doors

Over the last decade, scholars have called for a paradigm shift toward transparent and open scholarship. The resulting collection of practices conducted in accordance with this objective is typically referred to as “open science.” The push for open science has benefitted the field in innumerable ways, from enhancing clarity in the research process to improving the accessibility of scholarship, and open science is regarded as so important that some journals award badges for its use. However, several practices within open science are not consistent with certain epistemological frameworks, and there are not yet guidelines for conducting certain types of research (e.g., qualitative research, arts-based research, work with vulnerable populations) within an open science framework. Further, running parallel to the movement for open science has been an uptick in aggression and bullying, usually of early career researchers, women, people of color, and individuals who sit at the intersections of these and other vulnerable identities within academia. In this talk, I review the challenges and opportunities that open science poses for the field of psychology, and provide suggestions for creating an open science movement that is inclusive and safe for all.