Code for: Open Science and public trust in science: Results from two studies. Public Understanding of Science

Abstract of the original article, published in Public Understanding of Science: In two studies, we examined whether open science practices, such as making the materials, data, and code of a study openly accessible, positively affect public trust in science. Furthermore, we investigated whether the potential trust-damaging effects of research being funded privately (e.g., by a commercial enterprise) may be buffered by such practices. After preregistering six hypotheses, we conducted a survey study (Study 1; N = 504) and an experimental study (Study 2; N = 588) in two German general population samples. In both studies, we found evidence for the positive effects of open science practices on trust, though it should be noted that in Study 2, results were more inconsistent. We however did not find evidence for the aforementioned buffering effect. We conclude that while open science practices may contribute to increasing trust in science, the importance of making the use of open science practices visible should not be underestimated.

Abstract of the original article, published in Public Understanding of Science: In two studies, we examined whether open science practices, such as making the materials, data, and code of a study openly accessible, positively affect public trust in science. Furthermore, we investigated whether the potential trust-damaging effects of research being funded privately (e.g., by a commercial enterprise) may be buffered by such practices. After preregistering six hypotheses, we conducted a survey study (Study 1; N = 504) and an experimental study (Study 2; N = 588) in two German general population samples. In both studies, we found evidence for the positive effects of open science practices on trust, though it should be noted that in Study 2, results were more inconsistent. We however did not find evidence for the aforementioned buffering effect. We conclude that while open science practices may contribute to increasing trust in science, the importance of making the use of open science practices visible should not be underestimated.

The objective of the present research is twofold: First, we will examine, using survey questions and an experimental approach, whether open science practices (OSP) have a positive effect on trust in science. Second, we will experimentally investigate whether the trust-damaging effects of research being privately funded may be buffered by open science practices. We will thereby focus on the open science practice of making materials, data, and analysis code openly accessible.