Ten simple rules for implementing open and reproducible research practices after attending a training course

PLoS Comput Biol. 2023 Jan 5;19(1):e1010750. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010750. eCollection 2023 Jan.

Abstract

Open, reproducible, and replicable research practices are a fundamental part of science. Training is often organized on a grassroots level, offered by early career researchers, for early career researchers. Buffet style courses that cover many topics can inspire participants to try new things; however, they can also be overwhelming. Participants who want to implement new practices may not know where to start once they return to their research team. We describe ten simple rules to guide participants of relevant training courses in implementing robust research practices in their own projects, once they return to their research group. This includes (1) prioritizing and planning which practices to implement, which involves obtaining support and convincing others involved in the research project of the added value of implementing new practices; (2) managing problems that arise during implementation; and (3) making reproducible research and open science practices an integral part of a future research career. We also outline strategies that course organizers can use to prepare participants for implementation and support them during this process.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

CH and TLW were funded via the SPOKES Subproject of the Wellcome Trust Translational Partnership at Charité and Berlin Institutes of Health (218358/Z/19/Z). VH worked on this project as part of a Junior Visiting Fellowship at QUEST Center for Transforming Biomedical Research, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité. NMW was supported by the DFG Research Unit 2841 “Beyond the Exome”. DW was supported by the Economic and Social Research Council Studentship (ES/P000592/1). APK was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London. JAS is funded by the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.