How do I access and use OSF?
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What is OSF?
OSF (Open Science Framework) is an Open Research management tool designed to support research projects, enable collaboration, and facilitate open research.
The OSF tool improves research collaboration by enabling effective sharing of the research process. It facilitates open, reproducible research pipelines from preregistration through to data collection and analysis. OSF serves as a centralised project platform seamlessly integrating with existing workflows and external storage systems.
Why use OSF?
Preregistration enhances the transparency and reproducibility of research, providing a timestamped account of research questions and plans for data collection and analysis. This allows readers to see where a published study deviated from research plans. Find out more: Open Research principles and practices
OSF also provides a range of tools for research collaboration, providing a private space for members to share project materials, data and code with partners. The entire space can be easily shared once a project is completed.
The Office for Open Research has established institutional membership with OSF to support preregistration infrastructure at the University of Manchester, in line with the University's strategic goal to cultivate an open and reproducible research culture.
Benefits of OSF
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Preregistration and credibility: share your research plan publicly with a unique DOI, establishing precedence, boosting your credibility, and supporting scientific transparency. Allows updates and optional embargo for sensitive information.
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Discover and engage: easily find projects, data, materials, and potential colleagues to enrich your research. Explore both successful and unsuccessful experiments for learning opportunities.
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Study design and collaboration: initiate projects, add collaborators and manage the evolution of your study with built-in version control. A centralised and adaptable space for public or private collaboration.
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Publicity and visibility: easily share papers and research data in OSF Preprints or other preprint providers for citation and tracking impact. Manage project visibility between public and private.
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Comprehensive reporting: obtain DOIs for preprints, research plans and projects, simplifying reporting to funders or institutions. Allows easy tracking and management of project segments for collaboration or public sharing.
How do I access OSF?
To sign-up for OSF, visit osf.io and log in using your University email address through the Sign in via institution link.
OSF support provides resources, guides, and answers to frequently asked questions to help researchers, educators, and institutions make the most out of OSF.
As part of The University of Manchester's institutional membership, staff and students can access priority support by contacting the OSF help team directly via email.
If you have any further questions or encounter technical issues, please contact The Office for Open Research.