PathOS enables a new understanding of Open Science impacts and their causal mechanisms. Synthesising and structuring current evidence, PathOS will develop new methods and tools for measuring impact following a 6-step iterative process, via pilot-testing from in-depth case studies.

1. Scope: Start by assessing the current status in OS research and impact assessment methodology, to ensure we build on previous work.  
2. Conceptualise model: Embark on a drafting exercise to draft the Open Science intervention logic and map conceptual OS impact pathways to help us formulate the right questions for measuring the impacts.  
3. Quantify: Explore a range of metrics (data, methods, tools) to identify the effects of OS with a quali-quantitative approach to embed identification of causal effects. 
4. Operationalise: Apply the methods for measuring impacts in specific case studies (use self-assessment toolkits, produce code and data for data driven approach), evaluate results and make proposals on feasibility aspects for future uptake. 
5. Analyse: Do a cost benefit analysis targeting specific OS practices, capturing all key elements of the input-output-impact story. 
6. Validate model: Do a synthesis of all results from activities 1-5 to derive OS impact pathways. 

Activities 2-5 will take place in a phased approach, and center around selected case studies, each bringing on the table a range of OS specific elements what will allow us to better evaluate and measure them and be able to construct the pathways from start-to-end.