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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: GL12 (Statements) , GL13 (Statements) , GL17 (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)
Diversity in the research system
16.11.2022 – Excellent science needs a diversity of perspectives and experiences.
Comment on: GL3 (General)
DFG statement on the replicability of research results
03.06.2022 – Replication, is only one of many different procedures for assuring the quality of results in fields of science that use empirical-quantitative methods.
Comment on: GL7 (Statements)
Guidelines for quality-promoting aspects in medicine and biomedicine
06.07.2021 – An orientation for applicants, reviewers and committee members.
Comment on: Preamble (Life sciences) , Preamble (Statements) , GL7 (Life sciences) , GL7 (Statements) , GL9 (Life sciences) , GL9 (Statements) , GL11 (Life sciences) , GL11 (Statements) , GL12 (Life sciences) , GL12 (Statements)
What characterises research in the humanities and social sciences
07.05.2021 – There is a broad diversity of methods and subjects in the humanities and social sciences. Commonalities concern the relationship to human beings as acting individuals and to hu-man communities under historically changing conditions.
Comment on: Preamble (Humanities and social sciences)
Engineering sciences
07.05.2021 – What is characteristic of the engineering sciences? What are the field’s main commonalities? What considerations or requirements have to be in place for quality assurance?
Comment on: Preamble (Engineering/engineering 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) , GL12 (Humanities and social sciences) , GL13 (Humanities and social sciences)
Preamble – Life Sciences
20.04.2021 – Characteristics of life science research and associated requirements for quality-promoting measures
Comment on: Preamble (Life sciences)
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) , GL13 (Practical examples)
Positive example of the utilisation of older data in the geosciences
03.12.2020 – Example from Saxony
Comment on: GL9 (Natural sciences) , GL10 (Natural sciences) , GL12 (Natural sciences) , GL13 (Natural sciences) , GL17 (Natural sciences)
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)
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)
Scientific achievement and evaluation criteria in the life sciences
03.12.2020 – The rapid availability of methods has greatly accelerated research in many areas of the life sciences. Intense competition, combined with the enormous pressure to publish, is difficult to reconcile with high quality standards. Quantitative publication ...
Comment on: GL5 (Life sciences)
Research design in the life sciences
03.12.2020 – There is a relatively high risk of (unconscious) bias in the interpretation of results or in the selection of certain results due to the complex nature of the subjects of study in the life sciences. At the same time, research carried out on living ...
Comment on: GL9 (Life sciences) , GL13 (Life sciences)
Further links on the subject of methods and standards
03.12.2020 – Sammlung externer Links zum Themenkomplex.
Comment on: GL11 (Link list)
Responsibilities of the head of a work unit in the life sciences
03.12.2020 – Planning projects and writing publications account for much of the research activity, as does reviewing and evaluating scientific publications and projects. The head of a work unit has a particular responsibility to provide researchers with the necessary ...
Comment on: GL4 (Life sciences)
Sex, gender and diversity in research
03.12.2020 – In some research projects, the consideration of sex, gender and diversity dimensions can lead to the avoidance of "blind spots" and thus increase the scientific quality of the results. Therefore, reflection on sex, gender and diversity should be part of ...
Comment on: GL9 (General)
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)
Overarching quality assurance in the life sciences
03.12.2020 – In the life sciences, quality assurance in a research project begins with thorough research into the state of knowledge and a clear definition of where there are gaps in knowledge. Researchers are expected to use contemporary analytical methods for ...
Comment on: GL7 (Life sciences) , GL13 (Life 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: GL11 (General) , GL12 (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: GL7 (General) , GL11 (General) , GL12 (General) , GL13 (General) , 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)
Quality standards in connection with rapid publication
03.12.2020 – Rapid publication of research data and findings by no means allows any compromise to be made in terms of accepted quality standards in the given field.
Comment on: GL7 (Statements) , GL11 (Statements) , GL12 (Statements) , GL13 (Statements) , GL15 (Statements)
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)
Further links on making research results publicly accessible
03.12.2020 – Sammlung externer Links zum Themenkomplex.
Comment on: GL13 (Link list)
Further links relating to research design
03.12.2020 – Collection of external links on the subject
Comment on: GL9 (Link list)
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)
Minimum standards of quality assurance for research publications
03.12.2020 – Several checking procedures and quality assurance measures must be ensured by the publishers or the persons responsible at the publication venue.
Comment on: GL15 (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)
Quality assurance in the engineering sciences
03.12.2020 – A clear interpretation of results is sometimes made difficult by the complexity of the problem.
Comment on: GL7 (Engineering/engineering sciences)
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)
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)
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: GL7 (Natural sciences) , GL11 (Natural sciences) , GL12 (Natural sciences) , GL13 (Natural sciences) , GL15 (Natural sciences) , GL17 (Natural sciences)
Publication media in the life sciences
03.12.2020 – In the life sciences, results are often published in specialist journals and there is a peer review process for this purpose. Prompt availability and open access to published content is vital to scientific progress in the life sciences: this helps ensure ...
Comment on: GL15 (Life sciences)
Making research results accessible on the internet free of charge
03.12.2020 – Research results can be made accessible free of charge on the internet either by posting them in discipline-specific or institutional electronic archives (OA repositories) in addition to publication by a publishing house, or by publishing them directly in ...
Comment on: GL13 (General)
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)