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Enhancing reproducible research practices
15.08.2024 – The reproducibility or replicability of results is a fundamental quality criterion in many areas of research. In order to make scientific studies or experiments reproducible or replicable, Guideline 12 requires transparent information to be provided so ...
Comment on: GL2 (General) , GL3 (General) , GL4 (General) , GL7 (General)
Open Science as Part of Research Culture. Positioning of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation)
19.06.2023 – In its position paper entitled “Open Science as Part of Research Culture”, the DFG sets out its existing positions on the issue of open science and examines the potential and challenges involved. From the DFG’s point of view, while open science – ...
Comment on: GL7 (Statements) , GL13 (Statements)
Academic publishing as a foundation and area of leverage for research assessment
25.11.2022 – The DFG has responded to developments in the field of academic publishing with its position paper “Academic Publishing as a Foundation and Area of Leverage for Research Assessment”.
Comment on: GL13 (Statements)
Guidelines for quality-promoting aspects in medicine and biomedicine
06.07.2021 – An orientation for applicants, reviewers and committee members.
Comment on: GL7 (Life sciences)
Quality assurance in experimental chemistry
23.04.2021 – In experimental chemistry, quality assurance of research projects includes the documentation of procedures and results as well as the safeguarding of the materials obtained, insofar as this is possible and reasonable.
Comment on: GL7 (Natural sciences)
Diverse (digital) publication options in the humanities and social sciences
23.04.2021 – In the humanities and social sciences, a variety of formats in different media are suitable for publishing research results in the humanities, which should be carefully assessed prior to publication. Important criteria here include the reputability of the ...
Comment on: GL15 (Humanities and social sciences)
Replication as a component of quality assurance in the humanities and social sciences
22.04.2021 – The replication of findings obtained using quantitative methodology is an essential component of quality assurance in all research in the humanities and social sciences.
Comment on: GL7 (Humanities and social sciences) , GL13 (Humanities and social sciences)
Handling of research data
03.12.2020 – The DFG summarises its expectations of applicants with regard to the handling of project research data in its “Guidelines on the Handling of Research Data”, which was adopted by the Senate of the DFG on 30 September 2015. These guidelines also refer ...
Comment on: GL12 (General)
Handling research software – case studies
03.12.2020 – Based on practical examples, the handling of research software is explained in the fields of theoretical chemistry and theoretical physics.
Comment on: GL13 (General)
Positive example of the utilisation of older data in the geosciences
03.12.2020 – Example from Saxony
Comment on: GL13 (Natural sciences) , GL17 (Natural sciences)
Further links on the subject of documentation
03.12.2020 – Sammlung externer Links zum Themenkomplex.
Comment on: GL12 (Link list)
Storage capacity and management of sample material in the geosciences
03.12.2020 – Examples of best practice
Comment on: GL13 (Natural sciences) , GL17 (Natural sciences)
Development of research software and its archiving
03.12.2020 – Appropriate version management systems should be used in the development and archiving of research software.
Comment on: GL17 (General)
Methods and standards in the life sciences
03.12.2020 – Many methods used in life science projects are subject to limitations. When selecting a method, it is important to consider its strengths and weaknesses; this should be documented and compensated for by means of the appropriate controls. Research in the ...
Comment on: GL11 (Life sciences)
Further links on the subject of methods and standards
03.12.2020 – Sammlung externer Links zum Themenkomplex.
Comment on: GL11 (Link list)
Handling research data in the humanities and social sciences
03.12.2020 – Research data in humanities and social science projects are as diverse as the wide range of subjects and methods and form an integral part of the research results. A conscious approach to the documentation, maintenance, archiving and provision of data for ...
Comment on: GL7 (Humanities and social sciences) , GL12 (Humanities and social sciences)
Documentation in the life sciences
03.12.2020 – In the life sciences, an increasing quantity of data is generated that is exclusively available in digital form. For this reason, the use of electronic documentation facilities such as electronic laboratory notebooks is recommended. Data security and ...
Comment on: GL12 (Life sciences)
Stakeholders, roles and responsibilities in the life sciences
03.12.2020 – Protagonists, roles and responsibilities
Comment on: GL8 (Life sciences) , GL10 (Life sciences)
Archiving a pre-retirement or post-retirement research legacy – an example from the geosciences
03.12.2020 – Material should be saved from destruction if possible.
Comment on: GL7 (Natural sciences) , GL8 (Natural sciences) , GL9 (Natural sciences) , GL17 (Natural sciences)
Notes on documentation when using computer-assisted algorithmic or data-driven procedures in research
03.12.2020 – A description of the extent of documentation to be expected when using computerised algorithmic or data-driven processes, including tracking processes or machine learning, is provided.
Comment on: GL12 (General)
The most important forms of publication
03.12.2020 – Forms of publication with an identifier (such as ISBN, ISSN and DOI), long-term availability and stable final versions: Fast forms of publication with hyperlink, changeable content and shorter retention periods: Other forms of publication:
Comment on: GL13 (General)
Handling samples in the geosciences
03.12.2020 – Samples should be archived and stored for future use whenever possible so as to ensure that the material can be used as widely as possible by the scientific community.
Comment on: GL7 (Natural sciences) , GL9 (Natural sciences) , GL10 (Natural sciences) , GL17 (Natural sciences)
Electronic laboratory journal and repository in chemistry
03.12.2020 – An electronic laboratory journal in conjunction with a repository are described as an example in the field of chemistry.
Comment on: GL7 (Natural sciences) , GL12 (Natural sciences) , GL13 (Natural sciences) , GL17 (Natural sciences)
Maintaining storage capacity
03.12.2020 – Long-term storage of research data
Comment on: GL17 (General)
Archiving in the life sciences
03.12.2020 – Information and research data that is important to understanding the published results should ideally be archived for at least ten years for the purpose of verifiability. In some cases, it may be more expedient to hold the central samples for re-analysis ...
Comment on: GL17 (Life sciences)
Making Research Results Accessible in the Life Sciences
03.12.2020 – The aim should always be to publish a full set of results, since correct correlations and new insights can be gained more effectively and efficiently based on a comprehensive overview of previously elaborated research outcomes. When evaluating results, ...
Comment on: GL13 (Life sciences)
Further links relating to legal and ethical frameworks, usage rights
03.12.2020 – Disclaimer: The selection of links provided here does not claim to be exhaustive. They are examples. The editors welcome suggestions for the inclusion of further examples.
Comment on: GL10 (Link list)
Research software documentation
03.12.2020 – Reproducibility is another important issue in connection with research software. In addition to the source code as mentioned in the explanations (Level 2), it is also important to document and archive the design of the software, and where applicable the ...
Comment on: GL12 (General)
Technical systems and metadata
03.12.2020 – Technical systems, along with their hardware and software, are usually made up of a mixture of commercial and self-created components. Ideally, the design phase should already take care that metadata is generated as automated and standardised as possible.
Comment on: GL12 (Engineering/engineering sciences) , GL12 (Natural sciences)
Further links on making research results publicly accessible
03.12.2020 – Sammlung externer Links zum Themenkomplex.
Comment on: GL13 (Link list)
Roles and responsibilities in larger teams
03.12.2020 – Since engineering work equals teamwork, there are usually a number of participants involved, with dynamically shifting roles and responsibilities.
Comment on: GL8 (Engineering/engineering sciences)
Scope and completeness of documentation
03.12.2020 – It is important to distinguish between documentation within a research institution and published documentation.
Comment on: GL10 (General) , GL12 (General)
Archiving of samples
03.12.2020 – In some areas of engineering science, samples have a particularly important role to play.
Comment on: GL17 (Engineering/engineering sciences)
Laboratory journals and field books in the geosciences
03.12.2020 – Keeping a laboratory journal is also recommended in the geosciences.
Comment on: GL7 (Natural sciences) , GL12 (Natural sciences)
Archiving data in the earth sciences and environmental sciences
03.12.2020 – Best practice example – PANGAEA
Comment on: GL13 (Natural sciences) , GL15 (Natural sciences) , GL17 (Natural sciences)
Comparability and transferability
03.12.2020 – The systematic evaluation and validation of models or methods is carried out through scientific discussion and in comparison with references or other data.
Comment on: GL11 (General)
Setting down responsibilities in writing
03.12.2020 – A current, clearly written agreement on roles and responsibilities within a research project can provide clarity for all individuals involved.
Comment on: GL8 (General)
Documentation concept
03.12.2020 – Even in the planning phase of a research project, it is important to consider conceptual questions regarding data management as well as the documentation of project progression, methods and results.
Comment on: GL9 (General) , GL12 (General)
Avoiding conflicts of interests
03.12.2020 – Avoiding conflicts of interest includes disclosing sources of research funding and other circumstances.
Comment on: GL8 (General)
Further links on the subject of cross-phase quality assurance
03.12.2020 – Collection of external links on the subject
Comment on: GL7 (Link list)
Individual performance assessment and exclusion of discrimination
03.12.2020 – The academic evaluation of persons may only be based on their individual academic performance. In addition to avoiding legally prohibited discrimination, this also serves to ensure a purely qualitative selection.
Comment on: GL5 (General)
Use of standards in the geosciences
03.12.2020 – It is always preferable to use standards that have been developed in the relevant subject areas.
Comment on: GL7 (Natural sciences) , GL11 (Natural sciences) , GL12 (Natural sciences)
Documentation of results that do not support a hypothesis
03.12.2020 – The non-confirmation of a hypothesis is also a scientific accomplishment that contributes to gaining knowledge.
Comment on: GL12 (General)
The Nagoya Protocol in the geosciences
03.12.2020 – The extraction of geoscientific sample material can also fall under the regulations of the Nagoya Protocol.
Comment on: GL10 (Natural sciences)
The use of software
03.12.2020 – Software is used in many ways.
Comment on: GL11 (General) , GL12 (General)
Further links on archiving
03.12.2020 – Disclaimer: The selection of links provided here does not claim to be exhaustive. They are examples. The editors welcome suggestions for the inclusion of further examples.
Comment on: GL17 (Link list)
Maintaining storage capacity in the geosciences
03.12.2020 – Long-term storage of research data
Comment on: GL12 (Natural sciences) , GL17 (Natural sciences)
Further links on protagonists, responsibilities and roles
03.12.2020 – Sammlung externer Links zum Themenkomplex.
Comment on: GL8 (Link list)
Further links to publication media
03.12.2020 – Sammlung externer Links zum Themenkomplex.
Comment on: GL15 (Link list)