Knowledge Utilization and Open Science Policies: Noble aims that ensure quality research or Ordering discoveries like a pizza?

TL;DR

This paper examines how open science policies in Astronomy aim to enhance research quality and transparency, but face challenges due to current incentive structures favoring quantity over quality, and suggests policy improvements.

Contribution

It analyzes the impact of open science policies and incentives in Astronomy, highlighting challenges and proposing recommendations to improve scientific quality and openness.

Findings

Astronomy strives for openness and transparency in research.

Current evaluation metrics favor quantity over quality.

Policy changes could enhance scientific quality and openness.

Abstract

Open Science has been a rising theme in the landscape of science policy in recent years. The goal is to make research that emerges from publicly funded science to become findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable (FAIR) for use by other researchers. Knowledge utilization policies aim to efficiently make scientific knowledge beneficial for society at large. This paper demonstrates how Astronomy aspires to be open and transparent given their criteria for high research quality, which aim at pushing knowledge forward and clear communication of findings. However, the use of quantitative metrics in research evaluation puts pressure on the researcher, such that taking the extra time for transparent publishing of data and results is difficult, given that astronomers are not rewarded for the quality of research papers, but rather their quantity. This paper explores the current mode of openness in Astronomy and how incentives due to funding, publication practices and indicators affect this field. The paper concludes with some recommendations on how policies such as making science more open have the potential to contribute to scientific quality in Astronomy.