Becoming More Open: Increasing Rigor and Reproducibility of Gerontological Science

Abstract “Open science” refers to a collection of practices with the broad goal of increasing the transparency and reproducibility of scholarly research. The purpose of this symposium is to illustrate the application of open science practices to gerontological research and address barriers to adopting such practices. Drawing from his experiences in leading a research network that conducts integrative analysis of longitudinal aging studies (IALSA), Hofer will describe challenges posed by multiple sources of heterogeneity in conducting coordinated analyses, and ways of handling these challenges to maximize reproducibility. Next, Mroczek will illustrate these issues by providing two examples of coordinated analyses. This talk will highlight design features that promote openness and transparency in conducting research on longitudinal data. Third, Lodi-Smith will provide practical guidance and examples on preregistering complex projects, strategies for transparently reporting deviations from preregistrations, considerations in sharing sensitive data, and tips on transparent documentation of analysis code. She will also emphasize the pedagogical value of preregistration. Finally, Seaman will describe ongoing efforts to establish open science practices as the default in her laboratory, with the goal of providing a model for both junior and more established researchers wanting to build transparency into their research practices. Discussant Isaacowitz, editor for the Journal of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences, will evaluate the presentations from the lens of how journals can encourage more transparent and replicable scientific practices.


THE HOLISTIC IMPACT OF USING ARTS-BASED INTERVENTION FOR ELDERLY WITH DEMENTIA Rainbow Tin Hun HO, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
The use of creative arts on supporting elderly with dementia has been becoming popular due to its safe and engaging process. This non-pharmacological approach can complement with other treatment methods to support elderly with dementia on various aspects, including physical, cognitive and social functioning. In our randomized controlled trial on dance movement therapy (DMT) for 204 community dwelling elders with mild dementia, we found DMT could significantly reduce the level of depression, loneliness and negative mood (β=0. 33-0.42, p<.01), and also the diurnal cortisol slope (β =0.30, p<.01); while in another trial on 73 elderly with moderate dementia, we found music and movement could help reduce the behavioral and psychological symptoms such as agitation (β = -0.41, p<.01), aberrant motor behavior (β=-1.02, p<.01), and dysphonia (β=-0.61, p<.05). The present presentation aims to share with the audience our practical experiences, the research procedures as well as the findings of the projects. Kuei-Min Chen, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan (Republic of China) Body-movement is an art form of self-expression and health promotion. This presentation will provide an overview of studies that employ the use of "movement activities" or "exercise" as non-pharmacological modalities to improve activities of daily living and functional fitness (e.g., cardiopulmonary function, body flexibility, range of joint motion, and muscle strength and endurance) of older adults with disability. These studies have also been shown to decrease depression state and behavior symptoms of older adults with dementia in long-term care facilities. Moreover, the Wheelchair-bound Senior Elastic Band (WSEB) exercise program will be described that are of relevance to the older adults with disability and dementia.

ASCERTAINING CONSCIOUSNESS IN IDENTITY FORMATION: BEST MEDICAL PRACTICES IN DEMENTIA CARE Angel Duncan, Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
This session identifies common misconceptions about identity for persons living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Going beyond diagnostic brain imaging and neurocognitive testing, case studies and research in creativity from around the United States highlights consciousness of persons living with ADRD. Reviewing and discussing artworks is aimed to set dialogue in the question of where memory deposits emerge when engaged in creativity. Through art therapy techniques, this type of self-expression may provide new avenues in treatment for dementia care. Exploring the arts from those with Mild Cognitive Impairment to late stage Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia, such as frontotemporal dementia, consciousness seems to remain intact despite neural death. This session aims to discourage poor spending allocations and establishing meaningful care. From clinical research trials to creativity of self-expression, the importance of why the arts and sciences matter are demonstrated as effective modalities that enhance quality of life.

BECOMING MORE OPEN: INCREASING RIGOR AND REPRODUCIBILITY OF GERONTOLOGICAL SCIENCE
Chair: Brad Taylor Co-Chair: Lewina Lee Discussant: Derek Isaacowitz "Open science" refers to a collection of practices with the broad goal of increasing the transparency and reproducibility of scholarly research. The purpose of this symposium is to illustrate the application of open science practices to gerontological research and address barriers to adopting such practices. Drawing from his experiences in leading a GSA 2020 Annual Scientific Meeting Innovation in Aging, 2020, Vol. 4, No. S1 research network that conducts integrative analysis of longitudinal aging studies (IALSA), Hofer will describe challenges posed by multiple sources of heterogeneity in conducting coordinated analyses, and ways of handling these challenges to maximize reproducibility. Next, Mroczek will illustrate these issues by providing two examples of coordinated analyses. This talk will highlight design features that promote openness and transparency in conducting research on longitudinal data. Third, Lodi-Smith will provide practical guidance and examples on preregistering complex projects, strategies for transparently reporting deviations from preregistrations, considerations in sharing sensitive data, and tips on transparent documentation of analysis code. She will also emphasize the pedagogical value of preregistration. Finally, Seaman will describe ongoing efforts to establish open science practices as the default in her laboratory, with the goal of providing a model for both junior and more established researchers wanting to build transparency into their research practices. Discussant Isaacowitz, editor for the Journal of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences, will evaluate the presentations from the lens of how journals can encourage more transparent and replicable scientific practices.

OPENNESS AND TRANSPARENCY PROMOTION WITH EXISTING LONGITUDINAL DATA: A WORKED EXAMPLE OF A COORDINATED ANALYSIS
Daniel Mroczek, 1 Eileen Graham, 1 and Emily Willroth, 2

Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 2. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Evanston, Illinois, United States
The application of openness and transparency principles is challenging when using existing or ongoing long-term longitudinal data. One technique that promotes replicability and also is consistent with openness and transparency principles is coordinated analysis. Such analyses, especially when done with a large number of extant longitudinal datasets, tend to draw upon values of data sharing, revelation of code and scripts, and pre-registration. Thus coordinated analyses often provide good examples of how multiple transparency and openness values can come together. We will demonstrate this by presenting two recent large-scale coordinated analyses. One was a 15-study investigation of personality and mortality risk (Graham et al., 2017). The second is a new 16-study investigation of personality trajectories (Graham et al., under revision). We show how multi-study designs are congruent with open science and transparency ideas in the context of longitudinal and other secondary data.

ESTABLISHING THE REPLICABILITY AND GENERALIZABILITY OF MULTI-STUDY LONGITUDINAL RESEARCH Scott Hofer, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Replication and cross-validation of research findings across independent longitudinal studies is essential for a cumulative science. However, the interplay between harmonization, replication, and generalizability of results across interdisciplinary longitudinal studies can present remarkable challenges. Careful interpretation of multistudy results must include consideration of the age, birth cohort, health, and education of individuals in the sample, measurements, the number and spacing of assessments, and rates of response and attrition. Placed in a broader historical (or future) context, we must consider the representativeness of population sampling, historical period, and analytic method in understanding the replicability and generalizability of findings. In a multistudy context, harmonization can be considered at levels of research question, statistical models, and measurements and can minimize some sources of cross-study variability. I will discuss the challenges and benefits of harmonization and the coordinated analysis approach used by the IALSA research network to achieve results from multi-study integrative research. Jennifer Lodi-Smith, Canisius College, Buffalo, New York, United States This talk will provide guidance on the practicalities of open science for secondary data analysis and meta-analyses. Example studies will provide practical considerations for preregistering complex projects, insights into strategies for transparently reporting deviations from preregistrations, advice on deciding when and how to share sensitive data, and tips on transparent documentation of analysis code. Examples will be drawn from an ongoing meta-analysis of the relationship between self-concept clarity and self-esteem (https://osf.io/sa2bx/), the Rochester Adult Longitudinal Study (https://osf.io/ya4ph/), and the Aging and Autism Study (https://osf.io/g9c3e/). The pedagogical value of preregistration will be emphasized throughout the talk.

MAKING OPEN SCIENCE THE DEFAULT: CREATING LAB PRACTICES TO PROMOTE TRANSPARENCY Kendra Seaman, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States
Many factors disincentivize researchers, particularly junior faculty members, from implementing open science practices. One way to make open science less burdensome is integrate open science methods with existing procedures. I will describe my ongoing efforts to establish open science practices as the default in my laboratory. These strategies include (1) creating and updating a lab manual to set expectations for openness, (2) articulating a standard operating procedure for creating, preregistering, and managing a new project, (3) establishing clear organizational structures for data, code, and data products, and (4) training lab members on the use of these and other open science tools like GitHub. These strategies provide a model for both junior researchers starting a lab and more established researchers who want to build transparency into their research practices. Ultimately, implementing open science methods will improve lab workflows and improves the overall quality of our science.

SESSION 5475 (SYMPOSIUM)
BENEVOLENT AGEISM: EXPLORING ITS BOUNDARY CONDITIONS, GENERALIZABILITY, AND CORRELATES Chair: Toni Bisconti Co-Chair: Jennifer Sublett Discussant: Alison Chasteen Ageism is one of the few prejudices that is still socially condoned (Nelson, 2016). Given the aging population and the impact of internalizing ageist thoughts, this construct needs to