Adapting Open Science and Pre-registration to Longitudinal Research

Abstract

Open science practices, such as pre-registration and data sharing, increase transparency and may improve the replicability of developmental science. However, developmental science has lagged behind other fields in implementing open science practices. This lag may arise from unique challenges and considerations of longitudinal research. In this paper, preliminary guidelines are provided for adapting open science practices to longitudinal research to facilitate researchers’ use of these practices. The guidelines propose a serial and modular approach to registration that includes an initial pre-registration of the methods and focal hypotheses of the longitudinal study, along with subsequent pre- or co-registered questions, hypotheses, and analysis plans associated with specific papers. Researchers are encouraged to share their research materials and relevant data with associated papers, and to report sufficient information for replicability. In addition, there should be careful consideration about requirements regarding the timing of data sharing, to avoid disincentivizing longitudinal research.

Open Science in Developmental Science

“…Although most preregistration templates focus on hypothesis testing for randomized experiments, guidelines on pre-registration of secondary data analyses (Akker et al, 2021), longitudinal research (Petersen et al, 2022), and descriptive, discovery science (Kosie & Lew-Williams, 2022) are emerging. Norms are slowly shifting with increases to preregistration of articles published in many flagship journals of developmental science.…”

Shedding Light on functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy and Open Science Practices

“…The open science framework is working to promote practices that strengthen methodological rigor, increase transparency in methods and analysis, disseminate null results, and ultimately, improve the replicability of published findings. Open science practices are now widely being adopted by many fields of research from basic biology to clinical and translational research (Gilmore et al, 2017; Kaplan & Irvin, 2015; Petersen, Apfelbaum, McMurray, 2022). In this special issue of Neurophotonics , the field is celebrating functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy’s (fNIRS) 30 th anniversary.…”