Frequently Asked Questions
Open Science requirements
I only want to have a look at the database and not run a study yet.
You can access all materials for one target [Placeholder: link to access survey for stimulus examples]. Detailed descriptions of the contents of the database and the data collection procedure are shared in the paper [Placeholder: link to preprint] and in the data collection protocol [Placeholder: link to OSF project]. This should provide all information that is necessary for planning a study. The full database can then be requested [Placeholder: sentence unfinished in Word document]
I want to run an exploratory study and don’t have any hypotheses to preregister.
Preregistrations are not only for specifying hypotheses before data is collected. There are many degrees of freedom in collecting, cleaning, analyzing, and reporting data, which can be addressed in a preregistration by specifying, for example, the planned sample size, data exclusion rules, data processing steps, planned analyses, and inferences given certain results.
I want to use the stimuli for a qualitative study.
Preregistrations are not only for quantitative research. When creating a preregistration on the OSF, you can also select an alternative template that is better suited for qualitative research.
Can I write and share a preregistration without submitting it to AsPredicted or the OSF?
No. A key goal of a preregistration is to credibly signal to readers that a study plan was set before data collection started (as opposed to adjusting the study plan to produce certain results). This requires a publicly available, time-stamped document, which is provided by AsPredicted, the OSF, and other preregistration services.
What if I have to deviate from my preregistered plan because of unanticipated circumstances?
This happens all the time. Based on personal experience, editors, reviewers, and readers do not react negatively to this as long as the deviation is explicitly mentioned and justified (e.g., the planned sample size could not be reached).
I am not sure yet if I will publish the results of my study later. At what point should I share a summary of the results online?
[Placeholder: answer to be added]
Downloading the database
I submitted an access request via email but did not receive a response.
Check your spam folder for a response. Maybe your request ended up in our spam folder – using a different email address for the request might work. We try to handle all requests as quickly as possible, but it will typically take around a week to receive a response.
I received a link to the database, but the link and/or the password are invalid.
If the link is broken or the password for accessing the folder is invalid, please send us an email to let us know.
Using the database
Can I share the contents of the database with a collaborator?
No. Everyone who wants to access the database needs to complete the survey (i.e., agree to the terms of use). If you received access to the database for a specific study, and a collaborator on that study also wants to access the database, they do not have to complete the Open Science requirements again (see the second exception described here).
Can I share the contents of the database with editors and reviewers?
No. Everyone who wants to access the database needs to complete the survey (i.e., agree to the terms of use). Editors and reviewers can request access to the database without completing the Open Science requirements (see the first exception described here).
Can I include images from the database in my paper?
A maximum of three stimuli may be included in a paper. This applies to every stimulus category: Researchers may include three spontaneous and three neutral facial photographs, for example. It is not allowed to publish stimuli with any associated scores on targets’ characteristics.
Can I have the contact information for the targets so that I can recruit them for a follow-up study?
No. We did not collect this information and it is not allowed to try to identify or contact the targets.