Psychological Science Authors Earn Badges for Open Practices

2014 was the first year in which Psychological Science authors were eligible to earn up to three badges in recognition of open scientific practices.

• Open Data badges are awarded to authors who have made data that are shareable online publicly available;
• Open Materials badges are awarded to authors who have made the research methodology necessary for replication of the study publicly available; and
• Preregistered badges are awarded to authors who have reported results according to a publically available preregistered design and analysis plan.

As Editor Eric Eich explained in his January 2014 editorial, “Despite the importance of open communication for scientific progress, present norms do not provide strong incentives for individual researchers to share data, materials, or their research process.” The badges were developed in order to acknowledge those researchers who do take the initiative to share their data, methodologies, or preregistered plans.

The badge requirements are based on standards recommended in an open-practices document published by the Center for Open Science (2013). Badge icons appear at the beginning of the article, and details on the researchers’ practices are included in an “Open Practices” note at the end of the article.

So far this year, 31 articles have been published with badges; the authors of 16 of these were awarded both Open Data and Open Materials badges, and the authors of 15 were awarded either Open Data or Open Materials badges. In total, 107 authors have opted to participate in this initiative.

APS is happy to recognize these authors for their commitment to open scientific practices. Please see www.psychologicalscience.org/r/badge-earners for a list of authors who have earned badges.