A practical guide to developing research objects when undertaking reproducible statistically orientated social science research during COVID-19

The unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 global pandemic has had extremely disruptive effects on contemporary social life. The empirical findings that flow from social science inquiries have important implications for establishing policies and changing practices. The speed at which the pandemic has unfolded has led to a previously unparalleled requirement for rapid results from social science studies. This acceleration has consequences for verifying empirical results, and for building incrementally on research findings.

In another document we provide general guidance on how to adopt transparent and reproducible practices in statistically orientated social science research during the COVID-19 pandemic (http://eprints.ncrm.ac.uk/4402/). One recommendation was the production of research objects. Research objects are uncommon in the social sciences and they are introduced and explicated in this guide.