miércoles, 28 de diciembre de 2016

Preventing the ends from justifying the means: withholding results to address publication bias in peer-review | BMC Psychology | Full Text

Preventing the ends from justifying the means: withholding results to address publication bias in peer-review | BMC Psychology | Full Text
Biomed Central
BMC Psychology

Preventing the ends from justifying the means: withholding results to address publication bias in peer-review

  • Katherine S. ButtonEmail author,
  • Liz Bal,
  • Anna Clark and
  • Tim Shipley
BMC PsychologyBMC series – open, inclusive and trusted20164:59
DOI: 10.1186/s40359-016-0167-7
Received: 15 November 2016
Accepted: 15 November 2016
Published: 1 December 2016

Abstract

The evidence that many of the findings in the published literature may be unreliable is compelling. There is an excess of positive results, often from studies with small sample sizes, or other methodological limitations, and the conspicuous absence of null findings from studies of a similar quality. This distorts the evidence base, leading to false conclusions and undermining scientific progress. Central to this problem is a peer-review system where the decisions of authors, reviewers, and editors are more influenced by impressive results than they are by the validity of the study design. To address this, BMC Psychology is launching a pilot to trial a new ‘results-free’ peer-review process, whereby editors and reviewers are blinded to the study’s results, initially assessing manuscripts on the scientific merits of the rationale and methods alone. The aim is to improve the reliability and quality of published research, by focusing editorial decisions on the rigour of the methods, and preventing impressive ends justifying poor means.

Keywords

Publication bias Peer review Results-free review Transparency

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