Interesting Methodology Paper

 

http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1850704

False-Positive Psychology: Undisclosed Flexibility in Data Collection and Analysis Allows Presenting Anything as Significant

• Joseph P. Simmons: University of Pennsylvania - Operations & Information Management Department
• Leif D. Nelson: University of California, Berkeley - Haas School of Business
• Uri Simonsohn: University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School

Psychological Science, 2011

Abstract:
In this article, we accomplish two things. First, we show that despite empirical psychologists’ nominal endorsement of a low rate of false-positive findings (≤ .05), flexibility in data collection, analysis, and reporting dramatically increases actual false-positive rates. In many cases, a researcher is more likely to falsely find evidence that an effect exists than to correctly find evidence that it does not. We present computer simulations and a pair of actual experiments that demonstrate how unacceptably easy it is to accumulate (and report) statistically significant evidence for a false hypothesis. Second, we suggest a simple, low-cost, and straightforwardly effective disclosure-based solution to this problem. The solution involves six concrete requirements for authors and four guidelines for reviewers, all of which impose a minimal burden on the publication process.