OSF (Open Science Framework) API

Overview

The Open Science Framework by the Center for Open Science provides infrastructure for the entire research lifecycle — project management, file storage, preprint hosting, and registrations. The API enables search, project creation, file management, and preprint discovery across OSF Preprints, PsyArXiv, SocArXiv, and 25+ community preprint servers. Free, no auth for read access.

API Endpoints

Base URL

https://api.osf.io/v2

Search

bash
# Search across all OSF content
curl "https://api.osf.io/v2/search/?q=replication+crisis&page[size]=20"

# Search preprints
curl "https://api.osf.io/v2/preprints/?filter[q]=machine+learning&page[size]=20"

# Filter by preprint provider
curl "https://api.osf.io/v2/preprints/?filter[provider]=psyarxiv&filter[q]=cognitive+bias"

# Search registrations (pre-registered studies)
curl "https://api.osf.io/v2/registrations/?filter[q]=randomized+controlled+trial"

Projects

bash
# Get public projects
curl "https://api.osf.io/v2/nodes/?filter[public]=true&filter[q]=neuroimaging"

# Get project details
curl "https://api.osf.io/v2/nodes/{node_id}/"

# Get project files
curl "https://api.osf.io/v2/nodes/{node_id}/files/"

# Get project contributors
curl "https://api.osf.io/v2/nodes/{node_id}/contributors/"

Preprint Providers

| Provider | Filter | Disciplines | |----------|--------|-------------| | OSF Preprints | osf | Multidisciplinary | | PsyArXiv | psyarxiv | Psychology | | SocArXiv | socarxiv | Social sciences | | EarthArXiv | eartharxiv | Earth sciences | | BioHackrXiv | biohackrxiv | Bioinformatics | | engrXiv | engrxiv | Engineering | | MedArXiv | medarxiv | Medical sciences | | NutriXiv | nutrixiv | Nutrition |

Query Parameters

| Parameter | Description | Example | |-----------|-------------|---------| | filter[q] | Text search | filter[q]=open+data | | filter[provider] | Preprint server | filter[provider]=psyarxiv | | filter[subjects] | Subject filter | Subject taxonomy ID | | filter[date_created] | Date filter | filter[date_created][gte]=2024-01-01 | | page[size] | Results per page (max 100) | page[size]=50 | | page | Page number | page=2 |

Response Structure (Preprint)

json
{
  "data": [
    {
      "id": "abc12",
      "type": "preprints",
      "attributes": {
        "title": "Replication of the Ego Depletion Effect",
        "description": "We attempted to replicate...",
        "date_created": "2024-06-15T10:00:00Z",
        "date_published": "2024-06-16T08:00:00Z",
        "doi": "10.31234/osf.io/abc12",
        "is_published": true,
        "subjects": [["Social and Behavioral Sciences", "Psychology"]],
        "tags": ["replication", "ego depletion"]
      },
      "relationships": {
        "contributors": {"links": {"related": {"href": "..."}}},
        "primary_file": {"links": {"related": {"href": "..."}}}
      }
    }
  ]
}

Python Usage

python
import requests

BASE_URL = "https://api.osf.io/v2"


def search_preprints(query: str, provider: str = None,
                     page_size: int = 20) -> list:
    """Search OSF preprints across providers."""
    params = {
        "filter[q]": query,
        "page[size]": page_size,
    }
    if provider:
        params["filter[provider]"] = provider

    resp = requests.get(f"{BASE_URL}/preprints/", params=params)
    resp.raise_for_status()
    data = resp.json()

    results = []
    for item in data.get("data", []):
        attrs = item.get("attributes", {})
        results.append({
            "id": item.get("id"),
            "title": attrs.get("title"),
            "description": (attrs.get("description") or "")[:300],
            "doi": attrs.get("doi"),
            "date": attrs.get("date_published", "")[:10],
            "tags": attrs.get("tags", []),
            "url": f"https://osf.io/{item.get('id')}/",
        })
    return results


def search_registrations(query: str,
                         page_size: int = 20) -> list:
    """Search pre-registered studies on OSF."""
    params = {
        "filter[q]": query,
        "page[size]": page_size,
    }
    resp = requests.get(f"{BASE_URL}/registrations/", params=params)
    resp.raise_for_status()
    data = resp.json()

    results = []
    for item in data.get("data", []):
        attrs = item.get("attributes", {})
        results.append({
            "id": item.get("id"),
            "title": attrs.get("title"),
            "description": (attrs.get("description") or "")[:300],
            "date_registered": attrs.get("date_registered", "")[:10],
            "registration_schema": attrs.get("registration_supplement"),
        })
    return results


def get_project_files(node_id: str) -> list:
    """List files in an OSF project."""
    resp = requests.get(f"{BASE_URL}/nodes/{node_id}/files/")
    resp.raise_for_status()
    data = resp.json()

    providers = []
    for item in data.get("data", []):
        attrs = item.get("attributes", {})
        providers.append({
            "provider": attrs.get("provider"),
            "name": attrs.get("name"),
        })
    return providers


# Example: search psychology preprints
preprints = search_preprints("cognitive load", provider="psyarxiv")
for p in preprints[:5]:
    print(f"[{p['date']}] {p['title']}")
    print(f"  DOI: {p['doi']}")

# Example: find pre-registered clinical trials
regs = search_registrations("randomized placebo")
for r in regs[:5]:
    print(f"[{r['date_registered']}] {r['title']}")

Use Cases

1. Preprint discovery: Search across 25+ preprint servers
2. Pre-registration search: Find registered study protocols
3. Open data access: Download shared research datasets
4. Reproducibility: Access materials, data, and code for published studies
5. Project management: Programmatic project and file management

References

• OSF
• OSF API Documentation
• OSF Preprints
• Center for Open Science