Openness in research
Apply principles of openness throughout the research environment to unlock barriers for research impact and engagement.
Openness in Research or ‘Open Scholarship’ is the practice of applying principles of openness across the research lifecycle. At its core, openness is about making knowledge accessible, transparent, and reusable so that research can achieve greater reach, relevance and impact.
What does openness include?
A key component of openness is open access (OA), the practice of making published research freely available online, including in repositories such as ResearchSpace and Institutional Figshare at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. Open-access materials may include:
- Journal articles
- Creative works
- Books and book chapters
- Conference proceedings
- Theses
- Data and images
With closed research now becoming the exception, openness in research will become the default starting point for most research disciplines. Consideration must also be given to Māori data sovereignty and the FAIR and CARE principles for Indigenous data, where open may not always be the appropriate starting point. These principles emphasise that data should be managed and shared in ways that uphold Indigenous rights and values.
Openness also extends beyond publications. In New Zealand, transparency around animal research has become a key part of responsible research practice. The 2021 Openness Agreement on Animal Research and Teaching reflects the scientific community’s commitment to providing information about the nature, extent and purpose of animals used in research and teaching. This transparency is vital to building public trust and confidence.
The University’s strategic plan, Taumata Teitei, reinforces this commitment to openness:
Being open and engaged, striving to build strong, transparent and reciprocal relationships with local and global communities.
Why does openness matter for impact?
Engaging with open research practices enhances the visibility, credibility, and trustworthiness of research, creating stronger conditions for impact. Openness can:
- Increase the likelihood of research impact due to broader visibility and accessibility of publications and outputs
- Expand the global reach of publications and outputs, leading to greater awareness and citations
- Mitigate issues with research reproducibility and reliability of findings
- Create greater synergies in research, enabling collaboration and reducing unnecessary duplication of work
- Support better outcomes for human and animal wellbeing through transparent, ethical practice
What is Open Research?
Open Access publishing agreements
Research data management overview
Research data management concerns how to plan, ideate, collect, organise, manage, store, backup, preserve and share your data during and after your project. Find out about Research data management.
Contact
Ask the Library
Use this form to ask the library a question or submit an enquiry.
Animal Welfare Officer, Te Puna Tiketike | Research and Innovation Office
Email: awo@auckland.ac.nz