Preregistració

Preregistració, also known as preregistration, refers to the process of documenting and publicly registering research hypotheses, methods, and analysis plans before data collection begins. This practice aims to increase transparency, reduce research biases such as p-hacking and data dredging, and improve the reproducibility of scientific studies.

The preregistration process typically involves submitting a detailed research plan to a public registry or repository, which assigns a timestamp or registration number. This plan often includes the research questions, hypotheses, experimental design, data collection procedures, and planned statistical analyses. Some platforms also support registered reports, where the study methodology undergoes review prior to data collection, and acceptance can be contingent on adherence to the preregistered plan.

Preregistration is widely promoted across scientific disciplines, particularly in psychology, medicine, and social sciences, as a means to foster open science practices. Critics, however, note potential limitations such as reduced flexibility in exploratory analyses and the additional administrative burden it may impose on researchers.

Overall, preregistration is viewed as a valuable tool for enhancing scientific rigor and credibility by clarifying research intentions and preventing misleading research practices. It encourages researchers to carefully plan their studies, thereby contributing to more robust and reliable scientific knowledge.