Uptake, Barriers, and Facilitators of Open Science in Clinical Psychology: Findings from an Exploratory Survey in German-speaking Countries

Open Science practices (OSP) aim to enhance transparency, reproducibility, and research quality, yet empirical research regarding their uptake in clinical psychology remains scarce. The present survey examined OSP across clinical psychological research, teaching, and psychotherapeutic practice at universities and university clinics in German-speaking countries. Based on responses from 130 participants (M=37.13±9.75 years of age, 61.54% female) preregistration, a-priori sample size planning, and open access publishing were the most commonly reported OSP. Ethical and legal concerns, time constraints, and fear of mistakes were the most prominent barriers, while access to infrastructure and incentives were the most needed types of support. Teaching activities addressed Open Science topics, whereas implementation in clinical practice remained limited. Overall, the findings suggest a promising trend toward normalization of Open Science in clinical psychology, while highlighting the need for field-specific guidelines, institutional support, and aligned incentive structures to foster sustainable adoption across career-stages and contexts.