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Open Meta-Analysis Checklist
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Description: Cite as: Moreau, D. & Wiebels, K. (under review). Nine Quick Tips for Open Meta-Analyses. PLoS Computational Biology Open science principles are revolutionizing the transparency, reproducibility, and accessibility of research. Meta-analyses have become key for synthesizing data across studies in a principled way, however their impact is contingent on adherence to open science practices. Here, we outline nine quick tips for open meta-analyses, aimed at guiding researchers to maximize the reach and utility of their findings. We advocate for outlining preregistering clear protocols, opting for open tools and software, and the use of version control systems to ensure transparency and facilitate collaboration. We further emphasize the importance of reproducibility, for example by sharing search syntax and analysis scripts, and discuss the benefits of planning for dynamic updating to enable living meta-analyses. We also recommend publication in open-access formats, as well as open data, open code, and open access publication. We close by encouraging active promotion of research findings to bridge the gap between complex syntheses and public discourse, and provide a detailed submission checklist to equip researchers, reviewers and journal editors with a structured approach to conducting and reporting open meta-analyses.