Our Commitments
Trust is the foundation of policy research. These commitments guide everything we do—from how we conduct research to how we share findings with the world.
Scientific Integrity
We hold ourselves to the highest standards of scientific rigor.
What this means in practice
- All research undergoes internal review before publication
- We pre-register simulation protocols for major studies
- We report negative and null results, not just positive findings
- Our code is version-controlled and auditable
- We welcome external replication and critique
Open Access
Knowledge should be freely available to those who need it.
What this means in practice
- All peer-reviewed publications are open access
- SANE framework is licensed under Apache 2.0
- Datasets and replication materials are publicly available
- We provide free access to researchers from developing countries
- Documentation and tutorials are maintained in the open
Policy Neutrality
Our role is to illuminate, not advocate.
What this means in practice
- We simulate policies across the political spectrum
- Research questions are chosen for scientific merit, not political convenience
- We present findings objectively, including uncertainty
- We do not endorse candidates, parties, or specific legislation
- Stakeholders from diverse perspectives advise our work
Transparency
Our funders, methods, and limitations are public.
What this means in practice
- We disclose all funding sources annually
- Model assumptions and limitations are clearly documented
- We publish sensitivity analyses alongside main results
- Conflicts of interest are disclosed in all publications
- Board meeting minutes are publicly available
Reproducibility
Others must be able to verify and build on our work.
What this means in practice
- Simulation code is released with every publication
- Random seeds and computational environments are documented
- We maintain long-term archives of simulation outputs
- Methods are described in sufficient detail for replication
- We respond to reproducibility inquiries within 30 days
Inclusion
The best research comes from diverse perspectives.
What this means in practice
- We actively recruit from underrepresented backgrounds
- Accessibility is built into our tools and publications
- We partner with institutions in the Global South
- Our advisory board includes diverse viewpoints
- We provide mentorship to early-career researchers
Holding ourselves accountable
Commitments are only meaningful if we're held to them. We publish an annual accountability report that assesses our performance against each commitment, documents any lapses, and outlines corrective actions. This report is reviewed by our external advisory board and made available to the public.
Report a concern
If you believe we've fallen short of these commitments, we want to know. Reports can be made anonymously and are reviewed by our ethics committee within 14 days.
ethics@apeslab.org