Enabling open data sharing in the Humanities and Social Sciences

Abstract

Open science practices have traditionally been associated with the research cultures of the biomedical and physical sciences, focused on quantitative data sharing, preprints, and the publication of protocols and methods. When it comes to the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS), it's clear that the core principles of openness and transparency have value, but the use case, need and challenges can vary significantly.   Routledge and Taylor & Francis, with a long-standing focus and extensive publishing portfolio in the humanities and social sciences, have been embedding a variety of pathways to support open science specifically for HSS disciplines. This presentation will share, and reflect upon, a range of scholarly publishing solutions designed to enhance the openness, transparency, and the discoverability of HSS research, whilst also ensuring appropriate recognition and credit for the full spectrum of research contributions.   We will highlight case studies outlining how Taylor & Francis is evolving its services to better support HSS researchers in sharing their work openly. These include the development of open data policies specifically designed for HSS research, the introduction of open peer review within specific subject communities, and pilot programs focused on community models for open access journal and monograph publishing.   This session aims to explore the unique needs of HSS researchers in relation to open science and provide concrete examples of how publishers can respond to these needs. By sharing these initiatives, we hope to spark discussion and generate ideas that can contribute to building more practical and sustainable pathways to support HSS research being shared openly.