Huebner, G M; Fell, M J and Watson, N E (2021) Improving energy research practices: Guidance for transparency, reproducibility and quality. Buildings & Cities, 2(1), pp. 1-20. ISSN 2632-6655
Abstract
Energy use is of crucial importance for the global challenge of climate change, and also is an essential part of daily life. Hence, research on energy needs to be robust and valid. Other scientific disciplines have experienced a reproducibility crisis, i.e. existing findings could not be reproduced in new studies. The 'TReQ' approach is recommended to improve research practices in the energy field and arrive at greater transparency, reproducibility and quality. A highly adaptable suite of tools is presented that can be applied to energy research approaches across this multidisciplinary and fast-changing field. In particular, the following tools are introduced – preregistration of studies, making data and code publicly available, using preprints, and employing reporting guidelines – to heighten the standard of research practices within the energy field. The wider adoption of these tools can facilitate greater trust in the findings of research used to inform evidence-based policy and practice in the energy field.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | energy; open data and code; open science; preprints; preregistration; quality; reporting guidelines; reproducibility; research practices; transparency |
| Index terms: | evidence-based policy, reporting guideline, research practice, reproducibility, transparency, climate change, open data, scientific discipline, open science, energy use |
| Subjects: | monitoring and control systems, professional development, research management, data management, research evaluation and metrics, research design and methodology, climate science, public policy, energy systems |
| Topics: | Information Management, Research Practice, Sustainability, Governance, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here