Open Science and Research Data Management Guidelines
1 Preamble and Purpose
With the Open Science and the Research Data Management guidelines of the Max Planck Institute for Human Development (Max-Planck-Institut für Bildungsforschung, MPIB), the Institute declares its commitment to Open Science (OS) and its related practices, recognizing their value and alignment with the principles embraced by many scientists. In doing so, the Institute follows national and international recommendations and requirements surrounding OS and Research Data Management (RDM).
The MPIB is an international research institute dedicated to the interdisciplinary study of human development. It operates as part of the Max Planck Society (MPG). Given that research at the Institute relies heavily on empirical data and encompasses diverse study designs (e.g., longitudinal, cross-sectional, experimental) and data collection methods (e.g., brain imaging, surveys), the present guidelines are designed to appropriately reflect and accommodate this methodological and disciplinary diversity.
The purpose of the guidelines is to:
- Expedite research at the Institute by streamlining the scientific process with a predefined workflow,
- Articulate the Institute’s strategy and stance on OS and RDM practices,
- Provide an orientation framework to guide members of the Institute in adopting these practices, and
- Promote OS and RDM practices across the Institute.
Both guidelines consist of a strategic document and an implementation plan with practical guidelines.
2 Scope
These guidelines have been developed by the Institute for our Insitute, but may find application beyond research published under the Institute’s affiliation. The Institute ensures that all persons covered by these guidelines are systematically informed about them, particularly by integrating the relevant information into the onboarding processes. If the research is under the principal responsibility of a person affiliated with the Institute (e.g., as the primary author, contact person, or presenter), that person is in charge to make a serious effort to adhere to these guidelines to the greatest extent possible throughout the entire research process, including the contributions of collaborators. If an MPIB affiliation is used but a researcher merely contributes (as opposed to being principally responsible), they likewise make a serious effort that their own contribution complies with these guidelines. If the Institute negotiates contracts with other parties that address matters related to these guidelines, the Institute will work to ensure that the guidelines can be implemented to the greatest extent possible within the framework of the relevant contractual provisions and legal requirements.
3 Monitoring and Governance of the Guidelines
Annually, the board of directors reviews proposed changes to the present guidelines and associated implementation plans. In preparation, the RDM & OS Working Group will assess if updates are necessary to comply with Institute-wide regulations, review and discuss community contributions, and may solicit feedback from external experts.
Changes can be proposed directly via this GitLab project or via email to openscience@mpib-berlin.mpg.de by any member of the Institute. The technical implementation of proposing and integrating changes is described in the CONTRIBUTING.md file.
Each research center provides one guideline ambassador who serves as a contact point for its members and advocates for the needs of the center during the yearly update of the guidelines. Research groups that are associated with a center may share the same ambassadors, but they are also encouraged to provide their own. Each ambassador is part of the RDM & OS Working Group. If an ambassador leaves the Institute or resigns, the center or research group informs the head of the RDM & OS Working Group about the new ambassador.
The current ambassadors are:
- ARC: Ilse Pit — pit@mpib-berlin.mpg.de
- CEN: Penelope Tilsley — tilsley@mpib-berlin.mpg.de
- CHM: Neele Engelmann — engelmann@mpib-berlin.mpg.de
- LIP: Sina Schwarze — schwarze@mpib-berlin.mpg.de
3.1 How to raise an issue
3.2 How to suggest a change
Reuse
Citation
@misc{max_planck_institute_for_human_development2025,
author = {{Max Planck Institute for Human Development} and Bengfort,
Tobias and Blunk, Josefine and Engelmann, Neele and Feg, Thomas and
Herzog, Stefan and Kleemeyer, Maike and Schwarze, Sina and Nix,
Sebastian and Peikert, Aaron and Pit, Ilse and Tilsley, Penelope},
title = {Open {Science} and {Research} {Data} {Management}
{Guidelines}},
version = {1},
date = {2025-09-26},
url = {https://os-rdm.mpib.berlin/guidelines/},
doi = {10.17617/2.3682163},
langid = {en}
}