Skip to main content

Understanding of researcher behaviour is required to improve data reliability

Wass, Mark N., Ray, Larry J., Michaelis, Martin (2019) Understanding of researcher behaviour is required to improve data reliability. GigaScience, 19 . Article Number 171. ISSN 2047-217X. (doi:10.1093/gigascience/giz017) (KAR id:73032)

Abstract

Background: A lack of data reproducibility (“reproducibility crisis”) has been extensively debated across many academic disciplines.

Main body: Although a reproducibility crisis is widely perceived, conclusive data on the scale of the problem and the underlying reasons are largely lacking. The debate is primarily focused on methodological issues. However, examples such as the use of misidentified cell lines illustrate that the availability of reliable methods does not guarantee good practice. Moreover, research is often characterised by a lack of established methods. Despite the crucial importance of researcher conduct, research and conclusive data on the determinants of researcher behaviour are widely missing.

Conclusion: Meta-research is urgently needed that establishes an understanding of the factors that determine researcher behaviour. This knowledge can then be used to implement and iteratively improve measures, which incentivise researchers to apply the highest standards resulting in high quality data.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1093/gigascience/giz017
Uncontrolled keywords: chromosone level genome assembly; genome evolution; CNE; EBR
Subjects: H Social Sciences
Q Science
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Biosciences
Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Depositing User: Martin Michaelis
Date Deposited: 15 Mar 2019 17:52 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Jul 2023 08:55 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/73032 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.