2 Open Practices

Open practice is also an emerging field. One characteristic feature of open researchers is that they often integrate open elements into what they do. This can include things like:

• Agile project management
• Directly influencing practice
• Radical transparency
• Social media presence, blogging
• Using networks as a research resource
• Sharing research instruments
• Open access publication

It’s for individual researchers to decide the extent to which they make their practice open, but many find that open practices improve the efficiency, reach and impact of their work.

Weller (2011) proposed a schema for an open, networked research cycle as follows:

Planning

The researcher establishes their research question through iterative exposure, using social networks, and blogs. They seek feedback and ask for relevant experience. Using online information sources such as delicious feeds and Google scholar they gather relevant information to inform their research proposal. They set up a series of Google alerts around a number of subjects to gather daily information. A plan is created that incorporates regular release and small scale outputs. They hold an informal online meeting with some interested parties and establish a project blog or wiki.

Collecting data

The researcher continues to use online information sources for their literature review. They create an online database and seek user contributions, seeded by requested contributions from peers in their network. An online survey is created in SurveyMonkey.

Analysing

The researcher uses Google analytics to examine traffic data, and SurveyMonkey analytics to analyse responses. They use data visualisation tools such as ManyEyes to draw out key themes in responses.

Reflecting

Reflection occurs throughout the process by means of a series of blog posts and video interviews.