A Practical Guide for Improving Transparency and Reproducibility in Neuroimaging Research

PLoS Biol. 2016 Jul 7;14(7):e1002506. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1002506. eCollection 2016 Jul.

Abstract

Recent years have seen an increase in alarming signals regarding the lack of replicability in neuroscience, psychology, and other related fields. To avoid a widespread crisis in neuroimaging research and consequent loss of credibility in the public eye, we need to improve how we do science. This article aims to be a practical guide for researchers at any stage of their careers that will help them make their research more reproducible and transparent while minimizing the additional effort that this might require. The guide covers three major topics in open science (data, code, and publications) and offers practical advice as well as highlighting advantages of adopting more open research practices that go beyond improved transparency and reproducibility.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Guidelines as Topic*
  • Humans
  • Neuroimaging / methods*
  • Neuroimaging / standards*
  • Publications / standards
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Research / standards*
  • Research Design / standards*
  • Research Report / standards
  • Science / methods
  • Science / standards

Grants and funding

KJG was funded by the Laura and John Arnold Foundation. RAP was funded by Laura and John Arnold Foundation, National Science Foundation, and National Institutes of Health. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.