The TOP Guidelines were created by journals, funders, and societies to align scientific ideals with practices.

TOP provides a suite of tools to guide implementation of better, more transparent research.

The Standards

Published in Science in 2015 (OA), the Transparency and Openness Promotion guidelines include eight modular standards, each with three levels of increasing stringency. Journals select which of the eight transparency standards they wish to implement and select a level of implementation for each. These features provide flexibility for adoption depending on disciplinary variation, but simultaneously establish community standards.

Standards: Data Citation | Data, Materials, and Code Transparency | Design and Analysis | Preregistration | Replication

Levels: Disclose, Require, or Verify

Follow best practices with over 1,000 journals implementing TOP

One way to lead the way is to implement a mix of level 2 requirements for data, materials, and analytical code transparency and level 1 disclosure practices for reporting guidelines, preregistration, and replications. See  here for template language. 


News and Updates

For inquiries, please contact David Mellor or email top@cos.io.

Not Implemented Level I Level II Level III
Citation Standards Journal encourages citation of data, code, and materials, or says nothing. Journal describes citation of data in guidelines to authors with clear rules and examples. Article provides appropriate citation for data and materials used consistent with journal's author guidelines. Article is not published until providing appropriate citation for data and materials following journal's author guidelines.
Data Transparency Journal encourages data sharing, or says nothing. Article states whether data are available, and, if so, where to access them. Data must be posted to a trusted repository. Exceptions must be identified at article submission. Data must be posted to a trusted repository, and reported analyses will be reproduced independently prior to publication.
Analytic Methods (Code) Transparency Journal encourages code sharing, or says nothing. Article states whether code is available, and, if so, where to access it. Code must be posted to a trusted repository. Exceptions must be identified at article submission. Code must be posted to a trusted repository, and reported analyses will be reproduced independently prior to publication.
Research Materials Transparency Journal encourages materials sharing, or says nothing. Article states whether materials are available, and, if so, where to access them. Materials must be posted to a trusted repository. Exceptions must be identified at article submission. Materials must be posted to a trusted repository, and reported analyses will be reproduced independently prior to publication.
Design and Analysis Transparency Journal encourages design and analysis transparency, or says nothing. Journal articulates design transparency standards. Journal requires adherence to design transparency standards for review and publication. Journal requires and enforces adherence to design transparency standards for review and publication.
Study Preregistration Journal says nothing. Article states whether preregistration of study exists, and, if so, where to access it. Article states whether preregistration of study exists, and, if so, allows journal access during peer review for verification. Journal requires preregistration of studies and provides link and badge in article to meeting requirements.
Analysis Plan Preregistration Journal says nothing. Article states whether preregistration of study exists, and, if so, where to access it. Article states whether preregistration with analysis plan exists, and, if so, allows journal access during peer review for verification. Journal requires preregistration of studies with analysis plans and provides link and badge in article to meeting requirements.
Replication Journal discourages submission of replication studies, or says nothing. Journal encourages submission of replication studies. Journal encourages submission of replication studies and conducts results blind review. Journal uses Registered Reports as a submission option for replication studies with peer review prior to observing the study outcomes.

Read the complete TOP Guidelines PDF or wiki

Download the summary table for journals or funders.

Feeling overwhelmed? We can help!

  • TOP provides funding agencies, publishers, and even universities with customizable options for creating a new norm in how science is conducted.
  • Choose the standards that are right for you. 
  • Implement TOP today by choosing the standards the fit your organization's goals.

Join over 1,100 Journals that are Implementing TOP 

  • Review the language on these sample implementations for journals or funding agencies.
  • Determine which standards you wish to use. Disclose, require, or verify?
  • Each standard can be applied independently from others.
  • We have tools on the OSF to help you implement your policies. Contact us to learn more. 
  • Make an announcement about your implementation through an editorial or blog post.

Resources

TOP Implementors

We know of over 1,100 journals or organizations that have implemented one or more TOP-compliant policy as of June 2019 (see osf.io/2sk9f/). We are working on tools to make this information more discoverable. In the meantime, please see examples of such policies below or contact us for more information.  


Funders are also implementing open science policies around preregistration and Registered Reports, open data and materials, and preprints or open access. 

    The TOP Guidelines are a recognized standard in publishing and funding.

    With over 5,000 signatories, the TOP Guidelines are a widely used tool for implementing open science practices.

    Journal signatories are expressing their support of the principles of openness, transparency, and reproducibility, expressing interest in the guidelines and commit to conducting a review within a year of the standards and levels of adoption.

    Organization signatories are expressing their support of the principles of openness, transparency, and reproducibility and encouraging associated journals to conduct a review of the standards and levels of adoption.

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Journal Title Publisher Society/Association Affiliation Subject Area

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Organization

    Coordinating Committee

    The TOP Guidelines are a community-driven and evolving effort, changing to meet the needs of the community while pursuing the most transparent practices. The TOP Coordinating Committee is charged with the ongoing maintenance and outreach for the Guidelines. The TOP Coordinating Committee encourages adoption and implementation of the Guidelines through education, communication, and outreach. The Committee will evaluate adoption and effectiveness of the Guidelines and use this information, along with feedback from the stakeholder community, to improve them.

    Committee Members

  • Virginia Barbour
    Virginia Barbour
    Committee on Publication Ethics | Australasian Open Access Strategy Group
  • Stuart Buck
    Stuart Buck
    Laura and John Arnold Foundation
  • Todd Carpenter
    Todd Carpenter
    National Information Standards Organization
  • Kay Dickersin
    Kay Dickersin
    Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • Colin Elman
    Colin Elman
    Syracuse University
  • Brooks Hanson
    Brooks Hanson
    American Geophysical Union
  • Carole Lee
    Carole Lee
    University of Washington
  • Maryann Martone
    Maryann Martone
    University of California San Diego
  • Evan Mayo-Wilson
    Evan Mayo-Wilson
    Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
  • David Moher
    David Moher
    University of Ottawa
  • Tim Parker
    Tim Parker
    Whitman College
  • Mark Parsons
    Mark Parsons
    Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • Syril Pettit
    Syril Pettit
    Health and Environmental Sciences Institute
  • Barbara Spellman
    Barbara Spellman
    University of Virginia
  • Victoria Stodden
    Victoria Stodden
    University of Illinois, School of Information Sciences
  • Paula Williamson
    Paula Williamson
    University of Liverpool

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