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Open science challenges, benefits and tips in early career and beyond

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  • Christopher Allen
  • David M A Mehler

Abstract

The movement towards open science is a consequence of seemingly pervasive failures to replicate previous research. This transition comes with great benefits but also significant challenges that are likely to affect those who carry out the research, usually early career researchers (ECRs). Here, we describe key benefits, including reputational gains, increased chances of publication, and a broader increase in the reliability of research. The increased chances of publication are supported by exploratory analyses indicating null findings are substantially more likely to be published via open registered reports in comparison to more conventional methods. These benefits are balanced by challenges that we have encountered and that involve increased costs in terms of flexibility, time, and issues with the current incentive structure, all of which seem to affect ECRs acutely. Although there are major obstacles to the early adoption of open science, overall open science practices should benefit both the ECR and improve the quality of research. We review 3 benefits and 3 challenges and provide suggestions from the perspective of ECRs for moving towards open science practices, which we believe scientists and institutions at all levels would do well to consider.This Perspective article offers a balanced perspective on both the benefits and the challenges involved in the adoption of open science practices, with an emphasis on the implications for Early Career Researchers.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher Allen & David M A Mehler, 2019. "Open science challenges, benefits and tips in early career and beyond," PLOS Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(5), pages 1-14, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pbio00:3000246
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000246
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    3. Isabel Steinhardt & Mareike Bauer & Hannes Wünsche & Sonja Schimmler, 2023. "The connection of open science practices and the methodological approach of researchers," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 57(4), pages 3621-3636, August.
    4. Shaw, Steven D. & Nave, Gideon, 2023. "Don't hate the player, hate the game: Realigning incentive structures to promote robust science and better scientific practices in marketing," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    5. Shuaijun Guo & Xiaoming Yu & Orkan Okan, 2020. "Moving Health Literacy Research and Practice towards a Vision of Equity, Precision and Transparency," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(20), pages 1-14, October.
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    7. Abdelghani Maddi & Esther Lardreau & David Sapinho, 2021. "Open access in Europe: a national and regional comparison," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(4), pages 3131-3152, April.
    8. Hou, Jianhua & Wang, Yuanyuan & Zhang, Yang & Wang, Dongyi, 2022. "How do scholars and non-scholars participate in dataset dissemination on Twitter," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 16(1).
    9. Khalid Abbas & Ahmed Eltweri & Muhammad Kamran Nawaz & Zafar Ali, 2023. "Systematic Analysis of the Factors That Impact upon the Mindset of Knowledge Sharing Behaviour (KSB) for Individuals within Academia," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-27, July.
    10. Datta, Hannes & Schütt, Harm, 2022. "Building a strategic advantage with Open Science," Other publications TiSEM e74b06f9-2ffb-41ee-8a0a-3, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    11. Tang, Xuli & Li, Xin & Ding, Ying & Song, Min & Bu, Yi, 2020. "The pace of artificial intelligence innovations: Speed, talent, and trial-and-error," Journal of Informetrics, Elsevier, vol. 14(4).
    12. Martin Lakomý & Renata Hlavová & Hana Machackova & Gustav Bohlin & Maria Lindholm & Michela G Bertero & Markus Dettenhofer, 2020. "The motivation for citizens’ involvement in life sciences research is predicted by age and gender," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(8), pages 1-17, August.
    13. Jeng-Chieh Cheng & Jeen-Fong Li & Chi-Yo Huang, 2023. "Enablers for Adopting Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directives by Electronic Manufacturing Service Providers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-45, August.
    14. S. Van Cranenburgh & S. Wang & A. Vij & F. Pereira & J. Walker, 2021. "Choice modelling in the age of machine learning -- discussion paper," Papers 2101.11948, arXiv.org, revised Nov 2021.

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