Team: Jackie Thompson, Pen-Yuan Hsing, Fiona Booth, Jessica Wheeler, Anna Ploszaski, Nick Beazley-Long , Robbie Clark, Rosalind Strang, Lydia Wheeler, Marcus Munafo

Summary: One definition of metaresearch, also known as research on research, is the study of research methods, practices and environments with the aim of evaluating and improving research or research culture. In this workstream, we use a variety of methods - quantitative or qualitative - informed by those in use by other TARG workstreams and the wider school. 

We also work closely with the UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN), playing a lead role in shaping the open research landscape across higher education institutions in the UK.  

Example Projects: The following are some of the projects we are working on now. 

Responsible conduct of research across disciplines 

We are investigating how responsible conduct of research is conceived of, and practiced, differently across research disciplines, to better acknowledge that improving research practice is not a one-size-fits-all endeavour. OSF page: https://osf.io/8ntex/ 

METa-research for the Enhancement Of Research culture (METEOR) 

https://www.ukrn.org/activities/enhancing-research-culture/  

The aim of this project is to improve the use of applied meta-research evidence in institutional decision-making affecting research culture, rigour and transparency. We will do this by identifying, documenting, and developing consensus support for good practice.  

Sustainable & TrAnsparent Research data (STAR) 

https://www.ukrn.org/activities/star/  

The aim of this project is to support the development by institutions of sustainable arrangements for open and transparent research data. We aim to engage a diverse range of institutions in the project. 

Data quality and quality assuranceReproducibility by Design 

This is a transformative project to embed data integrity principles into academic research within the Faculty of Life Sciences. Our mission is to empower researchers to adopt robust methodologies that enhance the reproducibility of scientific findings. We believe in transparent and well-documented research practices that contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge.  Link to www.reproducibilitybydesign.com 

Open research indicators 

The aim of this project is to assess the prospects for better, more clearly defined indicators of open research. To do this, we are investigating which aspects of open research are considered most useful in the pursuit of research excellence in the eyes of users of indicators, the characteristic requirements users have for indicators of open research, and whether producers of open research indicators are well-placed to respond to these requirements. 

Registered Reports Funding Partnerships (RRFPs) 

Registered Reports (RRs) are an academic journal article format whereby submissions are peer reviewed on the basis of methodological rigour before data collection, with successful submissions granted “in principle acceptance”. Recently, funders and journals have begun to form RR funding partnerships (RRFPs), where review processes for funding applications and manuscripts are combined into one process. Our project examines one such RRFP to evaluate its effectiveness, and to develop a toolkit for forming these partnerships to be used by future implementors. 

Persuasion in Research 

https://www.ukrn.org/activities/story-arcs/ 

Research reports often tell a misleadingly straightforward story. It simplifies the messiness, complexity, blind alleys and failures that are common in real research. Whilst this can make research reports more persuasive for assessment or future use, it can also be misleading or exclude alternative perspectives. 

UKRN is working with the AHRC StoryArcs programme at Bath Spa University. Together we have tasked our Story Associate, Anna Ploszajski, to use Story Skills to change the narrative.