Reproducible Research and GIScience: An Evaluation Using GIScience Conference Papers

Research output: Contribution to book/Conference proceedings/Anthology/ReportConference contributionContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Frank O. Ostermann - (Author)
  • Daniel Nüst - , University of Münster (Author)
  • Carlos Granell - (Author)
  • Barbara Hofer - (Author)
  • Markus Konkol - (Author)

Abstract

GIScience conference authors and researchers face the same computational reproducibility challenges as authors and researchers from other disciplines who use computers to analyse data. Here, to assess the reproducibility of GIScience research, we apply a rubric for assessing the reproducibility of 75 conference papers published at the GIScience conference series in the years 2012-2018. Since the rubric and process were previously applied to the publications of the AGILE conference series, this paper itself is an attempt to replicate that analysis, however going beyond the previous work by evaluating and discussing proposed measures to improve reproducibility in the specific context of the GIScience conference series. The results of the GIScience paper assessment are in line with previous findings: although descriptions of workflows and the inclusion of the data and software suffice to explain the presented work, in most published papers they do not allow a third party to reproduce the results and findings with a reasonable effort. We summarise and adapt previous recommendations for improving this situation and propose the GIScience community to start a broad discussion on the reusability, quality, and openness of its research. Further, we critically reflect on the process of assessing paper reproducibility, and provide suggestions for improving future assessments. The code and data for this article are published at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4032875.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication11th International Conference on Geographic Information Science (GIScience 2021) - Part II
PublisherSchloss Dagstuhl - Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik
Pages2:1-2:16
Number of pages16
ISBN (electronic)978-3-95977-208-2
Publication statusPublished - 2021
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

Scopus 85115755418
ORCID /0000-0002-0024-5046/work/142255091

Keywords