Strengthening Open Science in Academia

Abstract:

Open Science programs are structured educational, research and technical projects that support the application of Open Science practices in universities. While previous research on Open Science has focused on topics such as Open Access, data sharing and data reuse, a very limited number of studies examine the implementation of Open Science in knowledge institutions, such as universities. Consequently, we don’t have a comprehensive understanding of how Open Science works in knowledge institutions such as universities. This article aims to bridge this gap by focusing on the monitoring and evaluation of Open Science programs. We present the outcome of an empirical study proposing a monitoring framework for Open Science programs. This framework, developed through semi-structured interviews and participant observations, was rigorously validated during two focus groups involving Open Science experts. The proposed monitoring framework comprises seven key themes: Open Science as an ecosystem, Epistemic Cultures, Governance, Technical Infrastructure, Funding, Open Science as a process, and Reflexivity. We describe the study’s results using the responsive evaluation method, which is most suitable in complex social systems and is recognized as a learning process by the evaluation’s stakeholders. This paper makes two key contributions to the interdisciplinary discussion on Open Science. Firstly, by examining the lack of research on the operationalization of Open Science programs in universities, this study highlights the necessity of adopting a comprehensive and organizational perspective. Secondly, by presenting a framework to help universities monitor their Open Science programs, this study tangibly contributes to the management of Open Science in universities and knowledge institutions.

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Ryan Watkins

Professor at George Washington University

I am a Professor with Human-Technology Collaboration and Educational Technology programs at George Washington University in Washington DC. I have written 12 books and more than 100 articles, and I co-host of the Parsing Science podcast where scientists tell the stories behind their research. I am also the developer of the WeShareScience.com online platform for sharing research videos, and SciencePods.com where researchers can create free podcasts about their science. My research interests include human interactions with intelligent machines, needs, needs assessments, and instructional design.