Introduction
One way to further reduce bias in your research design is by engaging with open research practices, such as pre-registration and registered reports.
- Pre-registration: publishing your study protocol or research plan in a registry prior to any data collection. No peer-review is conducted.
- Registered reports: a type of journal article where the background, study design, methods, and analysis plan are peer-reviewed before data are collected.
There are many benefits to pre-registration and registered reports. These practices support inclusive and equitable research methodology by:
• Encouraging researchers to plan rigorous study designs that are well-reported and reproducible.
• Reducing publication bias, where research without significant results is less likely to be published.
• Protecting researchers from being scooped or ideas stolen by bigger labs, as they have a time-stamped record of their own contribution to the topic.
Registration & Preregistration
This video from the Center for Open Science explains the significance of registrations and preregistrations in research.
There are a number of registries and journals which support pre-registration and registered reports. The open research movement began in the sciences, so many of the registries and resources are on the topic of ‘open science’. Nevertheless, there is a growing movement of open research in other disciplines, and we encourage everyone involved in research to engage with these practices.
The UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN) has a directory of open research across disciplines, which contains information and case studies for this practice across a range of subject areas.
Practical Steps and Tools
Consider your research:
- Is pre-registration feasible or appropriate?
- Is a registered report feasible or appropriate?
Visit the OSF Registries website and explore the following:
- Are there examples of pre-registered research in your discipline?
- Are there examples of registered reports in your discipline?
- If not, consider the reasons for this. Try and find an example of either a pre-registration or registered report for a study in your field using alternative websites.
Discuss with colleagues if they engage with open science practices prior to data collection and find out what their experience of this was.
References and Further Resources
An Excess of Positive Results: Comparing the Standard Psychology Literature With Registered Reports by Scheel et al. looks at how registered reports reduce publication bias and Type 1 error inflation.
