"Met de billen bloot" (face the music)
Themes"Met de billen bloot" (face the music)
What is this about?
“Even senior-researchers make mistakes. Even after twenty years of experience… that makes you realize that we all make mistakes.”[1]
This initiative concerns an activity that stimulates an open research culture in which research integrity issues can be discussed. The way in which this initiative tries to foster research integrity is through having face to face sessions about research integrity in which senior-researchers first share a personal case of ‘sloppy science’ or a research integrity dilemma. By starting with senior-researchers, the session stimulates junior- or other researchers to talk more openly about their obstacles during research projects. Whereas the session mainly aims to foster research integrity, it also stimulates trust in researchers and research so that an open environment and good communication among the researchers is fostered.
[1] This text is solely based on an interview with Mark Dubbelman, PhD in the Alzheimer center and currently member of the quality committee.For whom is this important?
What are the best practices?
Evaluation
Whereas there has not yet been an empirical evaluation of the initiative, so far, the responses from researchers are very positive. The experience is that there are always researchers – voluntarily - following up the senior-researchers in the session. People quickly feel safe to share their problems or something that might be questionable in terms of research integrity. According to one of the current members of the quality committee, Mark Dubbelman, this could partly be explained because there is already a very open environment in the Alzheimer center. From the committee evaluation it became clear that even though some researchers don’t speak directly in the meeting, they sometimes come to one of the committee members to talk things through.
What’s next?
The ‘Met de billen bloot’ sessions were always intended to happen within the scope of the Alzheimer center. There is no aim to extend it beyond the center but to keep it going as long as it keeps working. One might question whether there is enough variation if the session only takes place on institutional level. So far, this has not caused any problems, mainly because the center is quite large, new people are coming in every year and there always happens something during the year. Whereas this research center did not come across urgent obstacles, it is believed that if this will be implemented in a less open work environment, it is harder to make it a success. A refreshment could brighten up the sessions in similar meetings, however one has to keep in mind the goal of the session.
On behalf of the committee, Dubbelman expressed that it would be great if other (research) centers or groups take up this session in one of their regular meetings, so that the quality of research can be improved. Since the meetings are part of the weekly sessions, costless, take place in the center itself and are mandatory to attend, the feasibility of the ‘Met de billen bloot’ sessions is very high. According to him, the feasibility allows for a smooth implementation and therefore, it makes it a very attractive initiative.In Detail
The ‘Met de billen bloot’ sessions are organized by researchers and for researchers from within the Alzheimer Center Amsterdam. There it was initiated in around 2015/2016 by Dr. Hooghiemstra (senior-scientist) and Prof. Dr. Van der Flier (head of research). The Alzheimer center is a research center that contains about 60-70 researchers that work in the field of life- and medical sciences. The sessions take place once a year and are part of the regular weekly sessions held at the center. The regular sessions take place each Friday for two hours. In these sessions, subjects such as a new research project, presentations and other research related topics are being discussed. Everyone within the Alzheimer center is obliged to attend these sessions, including the session about research integrity.
Both dr. Hooghiemstra and prof. dr van der Flier are involved in the quality committee that is -among other things- responsible for organizing the sessions. The committee consists of three steady members, under whom Van der Flier and two others in the field of research quality and a few members that shift every year. Among these temporary members are a PhD- researcher, research assistant, neurologist and senior- researcher each year. In this way, all parties within the center are represented. However, it is worth clarifying that the sessions receive no support from external parties.
The quality committee meets once in two months to schedule the sessions and otherwise send out the newsletter with information concerning the session. For this particular session, some preparation from the senior-researchers is expected. The session starts with a short introduction and story from Prof. Dr. Van der Flier, in which senior-researchers follow up.Natalie Evans, Fenneke Blom, Astrid Hooghiemstra, Andrijana Perković Paloš, Mark Dubbelman contributed to this theme. Latest contribution was Oct 22, 2021
