January-March 2024 | Emily C. Willroth and Olivia E. Atherton
The article discusses the importance of transparently reporting deviations from preregistered research plans in psychological science. Preregistration is a tool to enhance the credibility of research findings by specifying research questions, hypotheses, methods, and analytic approaches before data collection. However, deviations from preregistered plans are common, and many researchers do not report them systematically. The authors propose a standardized framework for transparently reporting deviations, which includes a "Preregistration Deviations Table" to document and describe deviations in a clear and consistent manner. This framework helps researchers and journals ensure that deviations are well-documented and transparently reported, which is essential for maintaining the credibility of psychological science. The authors also emphasize the importance of reducing deviations by making preregistrations as detailed as possible and by using tools such as detailed templates and analytic code to minimize unregistered steps. They suggest that researchers should report all deviations, even if they are numerous, and that journals should implement policies to encourage transparent reporting of deviations. The ultimate goal is to improve the reliability and credibility of psychological research by promoting open science practices and ensuring that deviations are properly documented and reported.The article discusses the importance of transparently reporting deviations from preregistered research plans in psychological science. Preregistration is a tool to enhance the credibility of research findings by specifying research questions, hypotheses, methods, and analytic approaches before data collection. However, deviations from preregistered plans are common, and many researchers do not report them systematically. The authors propose a standardized framework for transparently reporting deviations, which includes a "Preregistration Deviations Table" to document and describe deviations in a clear and consistent manner. This framework helps researchers and journals ensure that deviations are well-documented and transparently reported, which is essential for maintaining the credibility of psychological science. The authors also emphasize the importance of reducing deviations by making preregistrations as detailed as possible and by using tools such as detailed templates and analytic code to minimize unregistered steps. They suggest that researchers should report all deviations, even if they are numerous, and that journals should implement policies to encourage transparent reporting of deviations. The ultimate goal is to improve the reliability and credibility of psychological research by promoting open science practices and ensuring that deviations are properly documented and reported.