Research Transparency and Reproducibility Training (RT2)

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Project Summary / Abstract Problems in scientific practice have generated widespread concern about the reliability of findings in behavioral and social science research (BSSR), including work related to aging. These problems arise from a lack of transparency on the part of researchers, as well as incentives in publishing and academia that encourage the presentation of results in ways that are newsworthy, but not necessarily reproducible or rigorous. Training on transparency and reproducibility is critical for equipping the BSSR workforce to conduct credible research. But while it is becoming more widely available, it is not yet the norm in graduate curricula. Led by the Berkeley Initiative for Transparency in the Social Sciences (BITSS), the Research Transparency and Reproducibility Training (RT2) is designed to strengthen the integrity of BSSR by increasing awareness of problems driven by opacity and providing exposure to and practice with tools designed to improve openness. In addition to providing an overview of problems and solutions in transparency, RT2 will provide space for practice with open science tools, as well as feedback on ongoing work in which participants are applying openness practices. BITSS has developed curricular materials for and delivered seven RT2 events and dozens of related workshops since 2014. This project will first adapt these for application in BSSR focused on aging topics, and integrating applied and discourse-based approaches to improve their effectiveness. This curriculum will be delivered through annual short courses for graduate students, postdocs, and other junior researchers. We will further facilitate long-term adoption of technical and transferable skills by investing in “‘champions” who provide support to peers and collaborators. We will provide access to funding and other guidance to help them integrate new practices into their research and teaching activities. Finally, we will evaluate the effectiveness of RT2 and its impact on learners through pre- and post-training surveys and in-depth interviews with randomly selected participants. Feedback from previous participants and applicants have demonstrated RT2’s effectiveness, as well as growing demand for training of this kind. In broadening its methodological focus and integrating applied and discursive approaches, RT2 can further transform research culture, equipping participants to lead, teach, and collaborate on transparent and reproducible aging research, laying the groundwork for better informing the decisions of policymakers, practitioners, and the public, and for facilitating collaboration and equity in BSSR.