Doing Open Social Science | LSE Press https://press.lse.ac.uk/books/m/10.31389/lsepress.dos
Doing Open Social ScienceRead online or download for free Open science is a set of principles and practices that aims to make research from all fields accessible to everyone for the benefit of researchers and society as a whole. Doing Open Social Science: A Guide for Researchers is the first comprehensive book setting out the principles and practices of open research, tailored specifically for those in the social science disciplines, at every career stage, offering practical advice on how to make research more transparent, trustworthy and reusable.Divided into four parts, the book explores the core principles and philosophy of open social science. Part II addresses how to improve the reproducibility of research through open approaches, including chapters on the principles and tools of documenting research as you go and on open data practices. Part III focuses on open practices within the qualitative social sciences. Chapters examine interview-based research, case studies and fieldwork, systematic documentation analysis, archival data and the role of openness in citizen (social) science. Part IV addresses shifting research cultures, with chapters on strategies for presenting research clearly and accessibly to maximise reach and impact and on open access publishing. The book ends with a discussion of the future of open social science. Ultimately, it argues, openness as a wider cultural change can renew the social sciences and the core foundations for academic progress in more dynamic and sustainable ways.This is an essential guide for anyone working in the social sciences, from doctoral candidates and early career researchers to experienced academics and practitioners, who wants to engage more effectively with open research.Note: A new version of the book was uploaded on 04 June 2026. The new files correct an error on the imprint page in which the CC BY-NC-ND license was not written out in full; other mentions of the license were correct and have not been changed. Click here to read early praise for Doing Open Social Science: A Guide for Researchers "This handbook will undoubtedly be transformative amidst a looming move towards open research across disciplines. It will be of great value to postgraduate students, early career researchers, and researchers outside academia grappling with open research practices. Also, for theorists looking to better comprehend its underpinnings too. It is a significant and original contribution to the field, written in a highly accessible style, and will almost certainly feature highly on reading lists for research methods courses across the social sciences. Alongside the useful annexes and glossary, the authors’ use of anecdotal examples and humour bring the text to life, making it broadly accessible without superfluous pomp. From traditional social science to computational approaches, the handbook looks not only at how open science has been done, but also what its many futures may become as they unfold. It is landmark text for open science." — Matthew Hanchard, University of Sheffield "Dunleavy and Monteath have delivered a much-needed invaluable guide to help academics and students better understand open research through the lens of social sciences. Whether you are already practising open social science or starting from scratch, the authors showcase a wealth of knowledge and practical tips to help turn quantitative and qualitative outputs into something truly open and reusable." — Andy Tattersall, Consultant, Open Research Communications Expert "This book’s focus on open social science does much more than it seems. By using the openness philosophy as a lens, it offers a range of state-of-the-art discussions of social science methods and practicalities. As such, it will be a terrific guide to a wide range of social science researchers who are broadly open to the argument but wondering what to do next." — Paul Cairney, Professor of Politics and Public Policy, University of Stirling "Doing Open Social Science: A Guide for Researchers provides conceptual clarity and practical guidance for improving rigor and transparency of research. Dunleavy and Monteath translate concepts like preregistration, reproducibility, replication and open data for both quantitative and qualitative researchers. After providing the reader with a conceptual framework for thinking about open science, the authors offer grounded advice and insight on translating those ideas into practice. The book powerfully blends theory and practice, helping social scientists improve their research." — Brian Nosek, Professor, University of Virginia, and Executive Director, Center for Open Science "This is the methods book that researchers really need. Covering subjects from how to write a data management plan to doing open science with qualitative data, the book is a practical guide to how to deliver rigorous and transparent research. It sets the agenda for how research should be done and shows the reader, step by step, how to get there. I only wish it were in print when I started my research career, it would have saved me a lot of head-scratching." — Rosie Campbell, Professor of Politics, Department of Political Economy, King's College Londonpress.lse.ac.uk