Code/Data repositories in science from a user-centered perspective (e.g., via platforms like GitHub, GitLab, OSF, Zenodo)

Dear colleagues,

As part of the BUA Open Science Ambassador program, we are seeking to better understand how repositories with publicly shared code and materials (e.g., on GitHub) are currently used in academic research and what barriers have been encountered so far.

Context:
While there are already plenty of tutorials available on how to set-up and structure your research repository (e.g., via platforms like GitHub, GitLab, OSF, Zenodo), a user-centered perspective is thereby often lacking. With ‘user-centered’ we mean a repository that has a clear structure, contains necessary information, data and code and gives a quick overview on the analyses conducted as part of a study.

Objectives:
To address this gap, we ask you to share your experiences with publicly shared code and materials (e.g., on GitHub), specifically in relation to navigating repositories from other research groups or projects. Your responses will help us to gain valuable insights into which barriers still exist and where improvements can be made to better serve the idea of actively using the code and repositories of other research projects.

Why your participation matters:
Your feedback will be crucial in informing the development of a GitHub repository prototype tailored specifically to the needs of researchers at the intersection of Psychology, Neuroscience and Data Science. Among other sources, based on the survey results, we will host a free workshop moderated by Niklas Laasch (Consultant for Digital Health & Product Strategy and Expert for Design Thinking) where we will collaboratively design and structure this prototype. The aim is to create an intuitive, user-friendly and standardized prototype that you can use for your own research projects.

Duration:
5 – 10 min

Thank you very much for your participation!

Your Open Science Ambassadors,

Charlotte Meinke, Leona Hammelrath, and Tessa Meyer