Results-free peer review
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 rigor of the methods, and preventing impressive ends justifying poor means.
This collection brings together all articles in BMC Psychology that have undergone the results-free peer-review process as part of this trial.
If you have any research you would like considered for Results-free peer-review please see our Results-free research article submission guidelines for details on how to prepare your manuscript.
- EDITORIAL
Preventing the ends from justifying the means: withholding results to address publication bias in peer-review
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 l...BMC Psychology 2016 4:59Published on: 1 December 2016
No hay comentarios:
Publicar un comentario