Openness & transparency
Back to the principles’ overview
Openness & transparency: Co-evaluation is embedded in the open science paradigm. Co-evaluation processes and procedures should be documented and made accessible to all participants, or even the wider public, whenever possible and ethically desirable. This increases their visibility and creates further opportunities for collaboration. Transparency also applies to the co-evaluation process itself, the documentation and sharing of co-evaluation results.
Recommendations:
- Data privacy and how to deal with sensitive data may be a challenge in co-evaluation. Transparent and dynamic informed consent procedures for any type of engagement are important and a recommendable way to reach an informed collective. Be aware that the forms and protocols for informed consent and similar procedures need to be adapted for clearance from ethic committees, which may vary across organisations and countries.
- Openly share a simple description of the co-evaluation process itself and what aspects of evaluation participants may be involved in. Likewise, document and share your co-evaluation results as openly and transparently as possible, while adhering to private data protection.
- Transparent co-evaluation results are an important basis for reflection. Apply FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles as far as possible. Similarly, the CARE (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, Ethics) Principles for Indigenous Data Governance offer important guidelines for working with communities.
- Create awareness amongst your participants about best practices related to personal data management, such as data minimisation or data anonymisation.
- Explore appropriate (alternative) formats of knowledge sharing and publication accessible to a wide audience. Consider also how findings, data, and methods can be made accessible for replication and reuse to diverse target groups.
