Open Research at Brookes

Oxford Brookes wants to provide the best possible atmosphere and ethos to allow all our researchers to produce high-quality outputs. Oxford Brookes embraces responsible Open Research and aims to follow the mantra of “Open as possible, closed as necessary”. Open Access for all research outputs is strongly encouraged, provided it is delivered in a responsible fashion. Oxford Brookes recognises and values the concept of academic autonomy and choice, and does not seek to adopt any position that may be perceived as a threat to academic freedom. The University supports Open Research practices which make both the outcomes and processes involved in carrying out research accessible to the international research community and society more widely.

Open Research encompasses a range of practices that aim to ensure the widest possible public benefit from research. This includes making data and publications available under terms that permit reuse, whenever possible and appropriate. However, Open Research goes beyond open data and Open Access, and includes research designs and infrastructure that support participation, engagement, and transparency. We have a growing collection of videos that offer short introductory training and practical guidance. Below you will find the links to a series of bite-sized sessions that cover different aspects of the Open Research world.

Data may be covered by data protection laws — including sensitive data about participants, and commercially sensitive material. Typically such material cannot be shared, though in certain cases it may be possible to share derived data sets, for example, if these can be anonymised.

A publication that discloses an inventive, commercially useful, and otherwise novel work would compromise a future patent application, if it is published before the patent is secured. Academic publications related to patented work can be open, after the patent has been secured.

Some research projects do not lend themselves to specific open research methods (e.g., citizen science or pre-registration). Appropriate methods should be selected, and research quality is typically the paramount consideration.

The Wellcome Trust has published a blog post that talks about when and how sensitive data can (sometimes) be shared safely.

As mentioned above, Open Research spans everything from data to methods to results. Open Access covers publications, typically reflected in the last stage only. The scholarly communications team has provided guidance on this topic.

Regarding other aspects, as appropriate to your topic and domain — and keeping in mind the limitations above — here are some key open research practices:

• Sharing your methods, code, and other materials publicly and early, in a way that allows others to build on them. Be “intelligently open”, by making sure that you present these materials in a way that is understandable and assessable by others
• Use a licence or waiver to allow anyone to freely re-use, modify, and re-share your research data
• Take further steps to ensure that your data is Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Re-usable (or “FAIR”)
• Join an Open Research community or project, and look for ways to involve others in your research

Contact us for more information: openresearch@brookes.ac.uk