# Exploring open science in applied ethology: practice and attitudes among researchers

## TL;DR

This study explores how open science practices are used in applied ethology, finding low adoption rates and a need for training and guidelines.

## Contribution

The paper provides the first survey-based assessment of open science practices in the field of applied ethology.

## Key findings

- Preprints and preregistration are uncommon in applied ethology, with lack of training being a key barrier.
- Only 27% of respondents always share their data, and few use data repositories or follow FAIR principles.
- Most data sharing occurs through supplementary material rather than formal repositories.

## Abstract

In light of the replication crisis, transparency is critical for impactful research. This is particularly relevant for animal-based research fields, like Applied Ethology, where ethical obligations demand both scientific integrity and responsible use of animals. While Open Science practices are well-established in some fields, especially psychology, they remain limited in the field of Applied Ethology, for which there is also a lack of standardised guidelines and training. To assess the prevalence of different Open Science practices in this field, we surveyed attendees of the 2021 virtual International Society for Applied Ethology Congress.

Of 372 invitations, 112 surveys were completed (30.1%). Preprints (25%) and preregistration (9%) were uncommon, with lack of training cited as the main barrier. Of those who had published a preprint/preregistered study protocol, preprints were mainly used for result dissemination (81%) and preregistration for quality control and integrity (56%). 27% reported always sharing their data, 57% shared sometimes, and 15% never shared their data. Sharing data as supplementary material was most common, only a minority used data repositories and only 21% of respondents had heard of the FAIR principles.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13104-026-07685-x.