10% completed

Dear participant,

Science moves forward by revisiting and testing previous research. Sometimes this means checking whether old findings still hold, trying new analyses, or testing theories with new data. Yet, we know little about how often researchers do this, why they choose to, and what challenges they face.

This survey explores these questions. Whether or not you have ever re-evaluated prior research, your perspective is important and will help us better understand research practices and how they shape scientific progress in Communication Science.

The survey takes about 15 minutes, is voluntary, and your answers will be kept confidential and anonymous.

Before starting, feel free to review the informed consent and study details.

Thank you very much for your participation,


Mario Haim (LMU Munich), Johannes Breuer (University of Duisburg-Essen, CAIS), Philipp Knöpfle (LMU Munich), Xinyue Zhao (CAIS)

Informed Consent

I have read and understood the information about the study and data protection. I had enough time to decide whether I want to take part. I know that I can stop my participation at any time during the survey without giving a reason. I agree to take part in this study for scientific research.

Background Information (Optional): Study and Data Protection Information for Online Survey

Under the following headings, you will find detailed explanations of the study and data protection information. Simply click on the individual questions if you would like further information.

How are voluntariness and anonymity considered in the study?

Participation in the study is voluntary. You can end your participation in this study at any time and without giving reasons, without any disadvantages to you. The data collected as part of this study will be treated strictly confidentially and used exclusively for scientific research purposes. The results of the study will be published solely in anonymized form, i.e., without the data being attributable to you as a person.

What data will be collected about me as part of the study?

During the survey, your responses will be recorded and stored. The collected data relate to the purpose of the study. Additionally, the survey program automatically collects so-called data traces. These include, for example, the date and time of access to the questionnaire as well as the total completion time. These data will be irreversibly deleted by us before evaluation and will not be further processed. We only use the answers you voluntarily provide during the survey.

Will personal data be collected about me?

Personal data refers to all information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person. An identifiable natural person is one who can be directly or indirectly identified, particularly by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier, or one or more specific characteristics expressing the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural, or social identity of that natural person. In the context of our standardized online survey, no personal data about you will be collected.

How will my data be processed as part of the study?

The collection and processing of your data will be carried out completely anonymized at LMU Munich. Subsequent provision of information, correction, deletion, restriction of processing, or data portability is generally not possible due to anonymity of the data.

Who is responsible for processing my data?

Generally responsible for data processing are: Mario Haim, Johannes Breuer, Philipp Knöpfle, and Xinyue Zhao.

For what purpose will my data be processed?

The purpose of the data processing is to analyze the online survey as part of a research project within the DFG-funded priority program "META-REP".

On what legal basis are my data processed?

The legal basis for data processing is your consent.

How can I revoke my consent?

You can withdraw your consent to participate in this study at any time and without giving reasons by closing the browser window. This will not result in any disadvantages for you. If you wish to withdraw your consent and delete your data after completing the survey, please contact us by email. 

How long will my data be stored?

After the completion of the study, the data will be retained and accessible for a period of ten years. Legal storage and deletion periods will be ensured. If there is a determination to delete the data, the deletion will be documented comprehensively after all deadlines have expired.

Will my data be shared or identifiable when published?

The data is only processed by our order processor. The data collection is carried out in cooperation with the service provider SoSci Survey GmbH, Munich. The data is transferred using end-to-end encryption and in accordance with the guidelines of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The final dataset with fully anonymized data may be made available to other researchers upon request or published on a protected platform for data archiving, documentation, and exchange. This procedure corresponds to the recommendations of the German Research Foundation (DFG) as well as the rules of good scientific practice and serves transparency and verifiability of results. The results of this study may be published in a scientific journal or presented at scientific conferences. Any publication will be in an anonymised form, i.e., the data cannot be attributed to a specific person.

What rights do I have?

Participation in the survey can be cancelled at any time; in the event of cancellation during the survey, we will include the answers given up to that point in the evaluation. You have the right to information, correction, deletion, restriction, and objection to processing or data portability. However, this is usually not possible due to the anonymity of the data. An option to withdraw is offered on the last page of the survey. Completed participation results in an anonymous data set that can no longer be identified. You have the right to request information from us about the processing of data concerning you. This right to information includes information on the purpose of the data processing, the data recipients and the storage period. If you wish to exercise your rights, please contact: — If you believe that the processing of your data is not lawful, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the supervisory authority for data protection. You have the right to lodge a complaint with the data protection supervisory authority of your federal state in the event of a breach of the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (EUDSGVO).

If you wish to exercise your rights or lodge a complaint with the data protection supervisory authority, you can contact us at Philipp.Knoepfle@ifkw.lmu.de.