The concept behind PathOS is to identify and document the Open Science Impact Pathways, i.e., the possible paths that connect the input to output, outcome and impact, including the causal mechanisms linking them and the existing enabling or blocking factors. Impact pathways respond to the need not only to estimate and measure net effects of a policy intervention, but to provide explanations why and how impacts occur.
The graph is adopted from the RI-PATHS Guidebook for Socio-economic Impact Assessment of Research Infrastructures. Deliverable D5.4 https://ri-paths-tool.eu/en
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.
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.