Barriers to adopting open science practices: Findings from a survey at a criminological research institute

• In Event: Enhancing Student Support and Experiential Learning in Criminology Education

Abstract

The open science reform movement strives to enhance transparency, accessibility, rigor, and reproducibility in scientific research. Since 2009, the Dutch Research Council (NWO) has advocated for open science in the Netherlands, aiming for all funded publications to be open access and for research data to be open and FAIR: findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable. The Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR), one of the NWO institutes, is transitioning from a “closed” to an “open” science model. This paper uses an online questionnaire to assess NSCR scientific staff attitudes (n = 41) toward nine open science practices and identify barriers to their adoption. We employ a mixed methods approach, combining quantitative analysis of Likert scale items with qualitative thematic analysis of open-ended responses. The analyses reveal nuanced perspectives on open science, moving beyond simplistic dichotomies, and identify barriers that funders should address to promote effective adoption.

Authors

• Wim Bernasco, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR)

• Asier Moneva, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement (NSCR); The Hague University of Applied Sciences

• Steve van de Weijer, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement

• Amy Nivette, Utrecht University

• Beate Volker, NSCR