Embracing Open Science: Transparency and collaboration in linguistics research and the "Love Languages" Study
Hello everyone!
I’m thrilled to share some exciting news with you all! My co-authored chapter, “Open Science and Research Materials,” has just been published in the new book Open Science in Applied Linguistics, edited by Luke Plonsky.
This chapter is the result of an inspiring and productive collaboration with my advisor, Professor Alison Mackey, and my recently graduated friend and colleague, Dr. Erin Fell, who is also the founder of LANGuistics, a company dedicated to providing research-driven instructional coaching services, curated guides, and accessible resources for second language educators—including her blog, LANGuistics: Where language teaching meets linguistics research.” 📚✨
OUR CHAPTER ON OPEN SCIENCE AND SHARING RESEARCH MATERIALS
In this chapter, we stress the importance of Open Science in the field of applied linguistics, especially when it comes to sharing research materials.
Our discussion highlights how the field can benefit from openly sharing research tools and instruments, thereby encouraging more transparency, collaboration, and innovation in our work.
We also offer concrete suggestions for how researchers can adopt and enhance Open Science practices, including the use of repositories like IRIS (Instruments for Research into Second Languages), which was co-founded by Professor Alison Mackey and Professor Emma Marsden, and expanding feedback mechanisms to foster dialogue and improvements.
If you’re interested in reading our chapter
on OPEN SCIENCE in linguistics research FOR FREE,
you can find it linked here: 👇
Mackey, A., Cook, K. L., & Fell, E. (2024). Open Science and research materials. In L. Plonsky (Ed.), Open Science in applied linguistics (pp. 95–103). Applied Linguistics Press.
OPEN SCIENCE PRACTICES IN MY RESEARCH
I strongly believe in the values of Open Science, and I’m committed to practicing reflexivity and ensuring transparency in my research. In a future post, I’ll share more about how I actively practice reflexivity throughout the research process, but today, in honor of the release of our chapter, here are two examples of my open science practices in my current research:
TRANSPARENCY WITH PARTICIPANTS
First, in my current study on language learning in multilingual couples, I’ve prioritized involving the participants in the research process from start to finish. Not only do participants get the chance to actively co-construct the data analysis of their text messaging screenshots with me during our Zoom interviews, but all participants also know from the time they sign the consent form that they will receive a copy of the working research paper after completing their formal participation, including our co-constructed analyses and my personal interpretation of their unique text messaging exchanges.
This practice helps my participants understand the research they participated in. It allows them to provide feedback, ask questions, and share their thoughts on how their personal—and often intimate and vulnerable—experiences are being represented.
Many participants have actively engaged in this feedback process after completing the study, offering valuable insights that have enriched the findings. (Some of you might also be reading this newsletter right now… 😉💕 Hi! 👋) I am also making an effort to share all related presentations and publications with my former participants as soon as the materials are available.
SHARING OF RESEARCH MATERIALS
Second, one aspect of this study that I am most excited to share after its completion is the tools that I’ve created in Python to help me clean, code, and analyze the rich, complex data in my study. I have developed a program that, using extensive thematic code and sub-code systems, efficiently and iteratively reads, identifies and applies potential codes, and overwrites .txt files of interview and screenshot transcripts—a tool that I hope other researchers will adapt for various research purposes in the future. By sharing these tools after completing my dissertation, I aim to encourage other applied linguistics researchers to leverage Python and similar programming languages throughout multiple stages of the research process.
As I continue to explore the complex dynamics of language learning, use, and investment, I’m excited to share more insights and developments with you all! 💕📲 Thank you for being part of this journey with me!
Gratefully,
Kris
REFERENCES
Mackey, A., Cook, K. L., & Fell, E. (2024). Open Science and research materials. In L. Plonsky (Ed.), Open Science in applied linguistics (pp. 95–103). Applied Linguistics Press.
