Description
For research to be effective, it must be both reproducible and replicable. Only then can false results be identified, existing findings built on and human error reduced. In short: meaningful and robust research can be done. However, research is often neither reproducible, nor replicable; this is often called a reproducibility crisis.
One factor contributing to the current state of research is the reliance of the paper as the primary means of documenting the research process. As a format, it leaves many gaps where knowledge gained during the research process is lost or not documented. These include, for example, research paths that were tried but then abandoned, or the hyperparameters of experiments, such as simulations, that were set but for which the reasons were not recorded.
My aim is to address this problem using semantic technologies. To address this problem, I am working on introducing a model of the research process in which information about abandoned research paths and general information can be recorded. This will enable researchers to document their processes in a machine-actionable format. To support researchers in working with this model, I will develop tooling let them document the entire research process; from inception to paper.
In this lightning talk, I will introduce the concept of the research model and present my planned tooling for documenting it, inviting feedback and ideas.
The topics I want to discuss are:
- How do you currently document your research
- What would your ideal tooling to document research steps look like?
