PsychDisclosure.org : Grassroots Support for Reforming Reporting Standards in Psychology

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Open Science
• Research Methodology

Background:

• Growing concerns exist regarding the reliability of psychological research findings.
• Current reporting standards lack critical methodological details necessary for accurate interpretation.
• An open-science initiative, PsychDisclosure.org, was developed to address these issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and impact of voluntary disclosure of key methodological details.
• To gauge psychologist sentiment towards systemic changes in research reporting.
• To identify potential improvements in the reliability and transparency of psychological research.

Main Methods:

• PsychDisclosure.org invited authors of recent psychology articles to disclose four specific methodological details.
• Details included excluded subjects, nonreported conditions and measures, and sample size determination.
• Author responses and disclosed information were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Nearly 50% of contacted researchers voluntarily disclosed the requested methodological specifications.
• Positive reception indicated a strong desire among psychologists for systemic reporting changes.
• Analysis revealed instances of questionable editorial practices requiring further investigation.

Conclusions:

• Voluntary disclosure demonstrates a demand for greater transparency in psychological research.
• Mandatory methods disclosure statements in all psychology journals are advocated.
• Implementing mandatory disclosures is crucial for enhancing the reliability of psychological findings.