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Beyond Open Science: Fostering dialogue about openness across methodological differences through Library-led initiatives

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posted on 2025-01-30, 14:09 authored by Jenni AdamsJenni Adams

Slides from the following conference paper, delivered at the Qualitative Research Symposium 2025: Transparency, Openness and Rigour in Qualitative Research on 28 January 2025.


Beyond Open Science: Fostering dialogue about openness across methodological differences through Library-led initiatives

This paper explores the role academic libraries can play in surfacing open qualitative research practices and creating space for dialogue about the meanings and parameters of openness in different methodological contexts. 

Until the discourse of open research becomes one that is habitually rather than only exceptionally inclusive of all methodological perspectives, centrally-led initiatives at the level of institution, funder, REF or beyond can only fail to engage research communities at large in conversations about openness. A framework of openness tailored to confirmatory, quantitative research lacks the ability to register practices and approaches which lie outside these practices’ epistemic norms. This can lead not only to a failure to engage with those conducting qualitative and interpretive research, but potentially also to the devaluation of this work, especially in the context of initiatives to develop open research metrics.

This paper explores a current project linked to the University of Sheffield’s appointment of Open Research Champions across all faculties. Employed by the University Library, four PGR Open Research Project officers will work with the Champions to develop and document events and activities within and across research areas and methodologies, with a particular focus on what openness means, and how it is embodied at a practical level, in contexts and methodologies outside the dominant perspective of ‘open science’. In this way, we aim to build on previous work (case study development, data stewardship work with qualitative researchers, cross-disciplinary Open Research Conversations) to engage qualitative researchers in the shaping of institutional understanding/s of open research.


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