Reproducible Research Practices and Open Science Training Course

Reproducible Research Practices and Open Science Training Course

Introduction

In an era where ethical integrity and transparency are paramount, conducting research on sensitive topics such as mental health, gender identity, trauma, abuse, and marginalized populations demands rigorous attention to reproducibility, open science, and data ethics.  Reproducible Research Practices and Open Science Training Course provides an in-depth exploration into how researchers can responsibly handle sensitive data, uphold ethical standards, and ensure their research processes are reproducible, transparent, and trustworthy. Through best practices in open data, version control, preregistration, and consent frameworks, participants will develop a robust foundation to tackle some of the most challenging research domains.

This training is tailored for professionals and academics in social science, health research, journalism, and data science who are engaging with vulnerable communities and controversial subjects. The course emphasizes FAIR data principles, open-access publishing, and safeguarding participant anonymity while navigating the complexities of sensitive subject research. Through practical modules, case studies, and modern tools like R Markdown, Git, and OSF (Open Science Framework), participants will emerge equipped to conduct research that is transparent, ethical, reproducible, and impactful.

Course Objectives

1. Understand the ethical frameworks for researching sensitive human subjects.
2. Apply open science tools (e.g., OSF, GitHub) in managing sensitive research.
3. Implement reproducible workflows for transparency and replicability.
4. Protect data privacy and anonymity in qualitative and quantitative studies.
5. Explore the principles of informed consent and trauma-informed methodologies.
6. Utilize version control to manage iterative research documentation.
7. Prepare pre-registered protocols for controversial or high-risk studies.
8. Analyze case studies on ethical violations and best practices.
9. Embrace FAIR data principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable).
10. Manage and share sensitive datasets within secure open-access repositories.
11. Critically assess bias, positionality, and power dynamics in fieldwork.
12. Understand the role of open peer review and open-access publishing.
13. Build research transparency plans aligned with institutional ethics boards.

Target Audiences

1. Social Science Researchers
2. Public Health Professionals
3. Human Rights Investigators
4. Graduate Students in Research
5. Non-profit Research Consultants
6. Data Journalists and Investigative Writers
7. Ethics Review Board Members
8. Open Science Advocates

Course Duration: 5 days

Course Modules

Module 1: Foundations of Sensitive Research Ethics

• Introduction to ethical research frameworks
• Definitions and categories of sensitive topics
• Human subject protection laws (e.g., GDPR, IRB)
• The role of cultural competence
• Consent strategies for vulnerable populations
• Case Study: Facebook Emotional Contagion Experiment

Module 2: Reproducible Research Principles

• Understanding reproducibility vs replicability
• Documenting research steps for transparency
• Introduction to R Markdown and Quarto
• Best practices in data versioning
• Linking data, code, and analysis
• Case Study: Reproducibility Crisis in Psychology

Module 3: Open Science Framework (OSF) for Sensitive Research

• Creating OSF projects for collaborative work
• Data storage and access levels
• Integrating preregistration and protocols
• Linking GitHub and OSF workflows
• Publishing preprints with embargo settings
• Case Study: OSF in Mental Health Intervention Studies

Module 4: Informed Consent and Trauma-Informed Approaches

• Developing culturally sensitive consent forms
• Introduction to trauma-informed research design
• Strategies for ongoing consent and withdrawal
• Managing re-traumatization and participant distress
• Consent in digital/online sensitive research
• Case Study: Interviews with Survivors of Abuse

Module 5: Managing Sensitive Data and Ensuring Privacy

• Data anonymization vs de-identification
• Working with encrypted and secure repositories
• Metadata standards for sensitive datasets
• Data sharing restrictions and data use agreements
• Ethics of secondary use of sensitive data
• Case Study: Harvard’s Tastes, Ties, and Time Dataset

Module 6: Pre-registration and Protocol Sharing

• Benefits and challenges of preregistration
• Platforms for protocol publication (OSF, AsPredicted)
• Crafting hypotheses and analytic plans transparently
• Handling deviations in sensitive-topic research
• Legal and ethical considerations in preregistration
• Case Study: COVID-19 Behavioral Health Research Trials

Module 7: Transparent Publishing and Peer Review

• Open-access vs traditional journals
• Open peer review: risks and benefits
• Embargoes and publishing sensitive findings responsibly
• Navigating ethical dilemmas in journal submission
• Tools for reproducible manuscript preparation
• Case Study: Controversy in Publishing Research on Suicide Methods

Module 8: Reflexivity, Power, and Positionality in Fieldwork

• Understanding researcher bias and influence
• Practicing reflexivity in sensitive environments
• Intersectionality and power dynamics
• Protecting communities from research harm
• Self-care and researcher mental health
• Case Study: Fieldwork with Displaced Migrants

Training Methodology

• Interactive Lectures with real-world examples
• Hands-on Practice using OSF, GitHub, R Markdown
• Breakout Discussions on ethics and dilemmas
• Role-Playing Exercises for informed consent and interviews
• Peer Reviews of reproducible research designs
• Case Study Presentations with group analysis

Register as a group from 3 participants for a Discount

Send us an email: info@datastatresearch.org or call +254724527104 

Certification

Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be issued with a globally- recognized certificate.

Tailor-Made Course

 We also offer tailor-made courses based on your needs.

Key Notes

a. The participant must be conversant with English.

b. Upon completion of training the participant will be issued with an Authorized Training Certificate

c. Course duration is flexible and the contents can be modified to fit any number of days.

d. The course fee includes facilitation training materials, 2 coffee breaks, buffet lunch and A Certificate upon successful completion of Training.

e. One-year post-training support Consultation and Coaching provided after the course.

f. Payment should be done at least a week before commence of the training, to DATASTAT CONSULTANCY LTD account, as indicated in the invoice so as to enable us prepare better for you.