Background

Reproducibility is often claimed as a central principle of the scientific method. It refers to the possibility for the scientific community to obtain the same results as the originators of a specific finding. Recently, concerns about a “reproducibility crisis” have grown in a variety of disciplines, especially in behavioural and medical sciences. This has been exacerbated by key problems such as a lack of transparency in reporting, data, and analysis, lack of replication studies, publication bias towards reporting of positive results, and a growing awareness of questionable research practices.

Poor levels of reproducibility are seen as a serious threat to scientific self-correction, efficiency of research processes, and societal trust in research results. There is a need to address issues in reproducibility in order to reduce inefficiencies, avoid repetition, maximise return on investment, prevent mistakes, and speed innovation to bring trust, integrity and efficiency to the European Research Area (ERA) and the global Research and Innovation (R&I) system in general.

In response to these challenges, TIER2 will centre epistemic diversity by selecting three broad research areas - social, life, and computer sciences, and two cross-disciplinary stakeholder groups - research publishers and funders to systematically investigate reproducibility across contexts. Through coordinated co-creation with these communities, TIER2 will:

examine the epistemological, social, and technical factors that shape reproducibility across contexts
build a state-of-the-art evidence-base on extent and efficacy of existing reproducibility interventions and practices
co-create techniques of scenario-planning, backcasting, and user-centred design to select, prioritise, adapt, and implement new tools to enhance reproducibility across contexts.

TIER2 will contribute to increasing the re-use and overall quality of research results and consequently boost trust, integrity and efficiency in research.

Objectives

CONCEPTUALISE

Create the conceptual & evidential framework for the project

DESIGN

Co-create interventions for improved reproducibility across contexts

IMPLEMENT

Drive change through community-driven stakeholder development & piloting of new interventions & tools for reproducibility

ASSESS

Synthesise findings from across the project using impact pathway logics & econometric analysis to validate the framework

RECOMMEND / REFLECT

Co-create a cohesive roadmap for future developments

NETWORK / EMPOWER

Equip researchers, funders, publishers & others with the skills, connections & resources to exploit state-of-the-art guidance, tools & services

Work Packages

WP1

Coordination and Management

WP2

Communities, Communication and Dissemination

WP3

Concept, evidence, synthesis and recommendations

WP4

Community-driven design and piloting of reproducibility tools and practices

WP5

Development / adaptation of tools & practices for communities