January-March 2024, Vol. 7, No. 1 | Emily C. Willroth and Olivia E. Atherton
The article "Best Laid Plans: A Guide to Reporting Preregistration Deviations" by Emily C. Willroth and Olivia E. Atherton addresses the issue of researchers deviating from their preregistered plans in psychological studies. Preregistration is a valuable tool for increasing the credibility of research findings, but deviations from these plans are common and often not well documented. The authors propose a standardized template for reporting these deviations, which they developed based on their own experiences, existing templates, feedback from colleagues, and a survey of 34 psychology journal editors. The template includes sections for describing deviations, reasons for deviations, timing, and reader impact. The authors recommend that researchers adopt this framework to improve transparency and encourage journals to implement policies that promote the transparent reporting of preregistration deviations. They also provide guidance on preventing deviations, when to deviate, and how to handle multiple deviations. The ultimate goal is to enhance the credibility and replicability of psychological research.The article "Best Laid Plans: A Guide to Reporting Preregistration Deviations" by Emily C. Willroth and Olivia E. Atherton addresses the issue of researchers deviating from their preregistered plans in psychological studies. Preregistration is a valuable tool for increasing the credibility of research findings, but deviations from these plans are common and often not well documented. The authors propose a standardized template for reporting these deviations, which they developed based on their own experiences, existing templates, feedback from colleagues, and a survey of 34 psychology journal editors. The template includes sections for describing deviations, reasons for deviations, timing, and reader impact. The authors recommend that researchers adopt this framework to improve transparency and encourage journals to implement policies that promote the transparent reporting of preregistration deviations. They also provide guidance on preventing deviations, when to deviate, and how to handle multiple deviations. The ultimate goal is to enhance the credibility and replicability of psychological research.