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A Taxonomy of Transparency in Science

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 June 2020

Kevin C. Elliott Open the ORCID record for Kevin C. Elliott [Opens in a new window]
Kevin C. Elliott*
Affiliation:
Lyman Briggs College, Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, and Department of Philosophy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
*
Email: kce@msu.edu
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Abstract

Both scientists and philosophers of science have recently emphasized the importance of promoting transparency in science. For scientists, transparency is a way to promote reproducibility, progress, and trust in research. For philosophers of science, transparency can help address the value-ladenness of scientific research in a responsible way. Nevertheless, the concept of transparency is a complex one. Scientists can be transparent about many different things, for many different reasons, on behalf of many different stakeholders. This paper proposes a taxonomy that clarifies the major dimensions along which approaches to transparency can vary. By doing so, it provides several insights that philosophers and other science studies scholars can pursue. In particular, it helps address common objections to pursuing transparency in science, it clarifies major forms of transparency, and it suggests avenues for further research on this topic.

Keywords

open sciencetransparencyvalues and sciencevalue judgmentsscience communicationresearch ethics
Type
Article
Information
Canadian Journal of Philosophy , Volume 52 , Issue 3: Engaging with Science, Values, and Society , April 2022 , pp. 342 - 355
Copyright
© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Canadian Journal of Philosophy

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