Optimizing the scientific study of suicide with open and transparent research practices

• Published in: Suicide & life-threatening behavior Vol. 51; no. 1; pp. 36 - 46
• Main Authors: Carpenter, Thomas P., Law, Keyne C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01-02-2021
• Subjects: Open access; Suicides & suicide attempts
• ISSN: 0363-0234; 1943-278X
• DOI: 10.1111/sltb.12665

Suicide research is vitally important, yet—like psychology research more broadly—faces methodological challenges. In recent years, researchers have raised concerns about standard practices in psychological research, concerns that apply to suicide research and raise questions about its robustness and validity. In the present paper, we review these concerns and the corresponding solutions put forth by the “open science” community. These include using open science platforms, pre‐registering studies, ensuring reproducible analyses, using high‐powered studies, ensuring open access to research materials and products, and conducting replication studies. We build upon existing guides, address specific obstacles faced by suicide researchers, and offer a clear set of recommended practices for suicide researchers. In particular, we consider challenges that suicide researchers may face in seeking to adopt “open science” practices (e.g., prioritizing large samples) and suggest possible strategies that the field may use in order to ensure robust and transparent research, despite these challenges.