A Student's Guide to Open Science: Using the Replication Crisis to Reform Psychology

Winner of the 2024 BPS Book Award in the Textbook Category

"[A] masterpiece from start to finish [...] It’s rare that what is essentially an instructive academic book is such a page turner. Pennington breathes life into what may have been a dry, procedural topic and peppers the scientific detail with entertaining anecdotes and activities.''

The Psychologist

“Dr Charlotte R. Pennington has pulled off a remarkable trifecta of being clear, concise, and comprehensive in covering the origins of the open science movement and practical advice for adopting the behaviors.”

Professor Brian Nosek, Executive Director, Center for Open Science; University of Virginia, US

''I believe this book will be extremely valuable to both students and academics who wish to further their understanding of transparent research in psychology, and I have already taken steps towards adding this as a core text in my department!'' 

Psychology Teaching Review

“My hope is that every psychology student will finish their degree with a heavily annotated, well-thumbed copy of this important and timely book!”

Dr Madeleine Pownall, University of Leeds, UK

“This book should be on the reading list for all university science degrees and on all library bookshelves. It is concise, accessible, and remarkably interactive, with brilliant use of examples and learning activities. Is there a better instruction manual on how to do science properly? If there is, I haven’t seen it.”

Professor Chris Chambers, Cardiff University, UK

“This book will equip future generations with the tools necessary to improve our disciplines, and thereby represents a significant ray of hope for the future. Essential and timely.”

Dr Emma Henderson, University of Surrey, UK 

A Student’s Guide to Open Science explores the so-called “replication crisis” in psychology (the inherent difficulties in replicating or reproducing research results to test the robustness of findings) while delving into the ways that open science can address the crisis by transforming research practice.

Students will develop a fundamental understanding of the origins and drivers of the crisis and learn how open science practices can enhance research transparency, replication, and reproducibility.

With a handy, digestible guide for students and researchers alike on how to implement open science practices within their own workflow, as well as pedagogic teaching and learning activities that can be re-used by educators, Pennington’s new book is an essential guide to navigating the replication crisis.

Key features of this book include:

• An overview of landmark events that will mark the history of the replication crisis
• Case studies of classic psychological studies undergoing replication
• Test yourself activities to reinforce learning of key concepts, including an open science crossword!
• Top tips for adopting open science practices, including study preregistration, Registered Reports, and open materials, code, and data
• Useful illustrations to aid understanding and facilitate revision!

New concepts and practices can often feel overwhelming, but this book aims to help students and educators pick what they want from the ‘open science buffet’ and return to the table to fill up their plates again and again. Remember, we are all students of open science and will be for many years to come!

Dr Charlotte R. Pennington is a Lecturer in Psychology at Aston University, Birmingham, UK and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She is an expert in open science and advocates for the teaching of this within higher education pedagogy.