Open Data Practices and Replication Quality in Interdisciplinary Research Teams
Keywords:
Open Data, Replication Quality, Interdisciplinary Teams, Panel Analysis, Multidisciplinary ResearchAbstract
The rapid evolution of modern science has led to an unprecedented increase in interdisciplinary research collaborations, alongside a parallel movement advocating for open science practices. However, the relationship between these two trends and their combined impact on the reliability of scientific findings remains poorly understood. This study presents a rigorous longitudinal panel analysis tracking 1,240 interdisciplinary research projects over a ten-year period to examine how open data practices influence replication quality. By constructing a multidimensional Open Data Index and a robust metric for Replication Quality, we model the dynamics of scientific reproducibility across diverse research teams. Our baseline panel regression models with two-way fixed effects demonstrate that systematic open data sharing is positively and significantly associated with higher replication quality. Crucially, we identify a negative direct effect of interdisciplinary cognitive distance on replication success, which is fully moderated and mitigated by strong open data practices. When interdisciplinary teams adopt comprehensive, standardized data-sharing protocols, the coordination barriers and methodological heterogeneity that typically compromise replication are neutralized. These findings suggest that open data serves as an essential communicative and methodological bridge in cross-disciplinary endeavors. We discuss the implications of these results for funding agencies, academic institutions, and journal editors seeking to design policies that foster both collaborative diversity and scientific integrity.References
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