11.2: Scientific Publishing
- Page ID
- 27635
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Scientific journals are slowly making progress towards solving many of the problems I have discussed. Reporting guidelines, such as CONSORT for randomized trials, make it clear what information is required for a published paper to be reproducible; unfortunately, as we’ve seen, these guidelines are infrequently enforced. We must continue to pressure journals to hold authors to more rigorous standards.
Premier journals need to lead the charge. Nature has begun to do so, announcing a new checklist which authors are required to complete before articles may be published. The checklist requires reporting of sample sizes, statistical power calculations, clinical trial registration numbers, a completed CONSORT checklist, adjustment for multiple comparisons, and sharing of data and source code. The guidelines cover most issues covered in Statistics Done Wrong, except for stopping rules and discussion of any reasons for departing from the trial’s registered protocol. Nature will also make statisticians available to consult for papers as needed.
If these guidelines are enforced, the result will be much more reliable and reproducible scientific research. More journals should do the same.