Embedding data skills in research methods education: preparing students for reproducible research

McAleer, P. , Stack, N., Woods, H., DeBruine, L. M. , Paterson, H. , Nordmann, E. , Kuepper-Tetzel, C. E. and Barr, D. J. (2022) Embedding data skills in research methods education: preparing students for reproducible research. PsyArXiv, (doi: 10.31234/osf.io/hq68s)

Abstract

Many initiatives to improve reproducibility incentivise replication and encourage greater transparency without directly addressing the underlying skills needed for transparent and reproducible data preparation and analysis. In this paper, we argue that training in data processing and transformation should be embedded in field-specific research methods curricula. Promoting reproducibility and open science requires not only teaching relevant values and practices, but also providing the skills needed for reproducible data analysis. Improving students’ data skills will also enhance their employability within and beyond the academic context. To demonstrate the necessity of these skills, we walk through the analysis of realistic data from a classic paradigm in experimental psychology that is often used in teaching: the Stroop Interference Task. When starting from realistic raw data, nearly 80% of the data analytic effort for this task involves skills not commonly taught— namely, importing, manipulating, and transforming tabular data. Data processing and transformation is a large and inescapable part of data analysis, and so education should strive to make the work associated with it as efficient, transparent, and reproducible as possible. We conclude by considering the challenges of embedding computational data skills training in undergraduate programmes and offer some solutions.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: No
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Barr, Dr Dale and Nordmann, Dr Emily and Stack, Professor Niamh and DeBruine, Professor Lisa and McAleer, Dr Phil and Kuepper-Tetzel, Dr Carolina and Paterson, Dr Helena
• Authors: McAleer, P., Stack, N., Woods, H., DeBruine, L. M., Paterson, H., Nordmann, E., Kuepper-Tetzel, C. E., and Barr, D. J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Psychology & Neuroscience
• Journal Name: PsyArXiv
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © The Author(s) 2022
• First Published: First published in PsyArXiv 2022
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons license