Open science at the science-policy interface: bringing in the evidence?

Area of Science:

• Science and Technology Policy
• Research Impact
• Open Science Practices

Background:

• Open science aims to improve research accessibility and reuse for societal benefit.
• The science-policy interface is crucial for evidence-informed decision-making.
• Current optimism about open science oversimplifies research uptake mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically analyze the potential of open science to enhance research uptake at the science-policy interface.
• To challenge the simplistic, linear models of research uptake often assumed in open science and evidence-policy gap literature.
• To highlight the need for a more nuanced understanding of the science-policy interface, considering domain differences.

Main Methods:

• Combines insights from policy theory.
• Conducts a narrative review of literature on the evidence-policy gap, focusing on the health domain.
• Analyzes the assumptions underlying open science and evidence-policy gap discussions.

Main Results:

• The optimism surrounding open science's impact on policy uptake is questioned.
• Key terms like "impact" and "uptake" are often left undefined in open science discourse.
• Linear models of research uptake and the "evidence-policy gap" concept are based on simplistic assumptions.
• Focusing solely on improving communication or removing access barriers is insufficient for fostering research uptake.
• Differences between academic and policy domains are often ignored.

Conclusions:

• Open science's potential to enhance research uptake at the science-policy interface is overstated due to simplistic assumptions.
• Effective research uptake requires a deeper understanding of the science-policy interface beyond mere accessibility and communication improvements.
• Future research should empirically investigate the science-policy interface and acknowledge the distinct characteristics of policy and academic domains.