Pre- registration for evidence bases

Approximately two thirds of published scientific articles are estimated to be non reproducible, likely due to questionable research practices (QRPs). This is the opposite of science. ‘Science’ is not just a result, it is a method.

The solution/ deterrent for many QRPs is pre-registration of study protocols and the associated hypotheses being tested using publically available platforms. This infrastructure already exists: osf dot io, aspredicted dot com, clinicaltrials dot gov, zenodo dot org, etc.

Proposed policy: Following implementation on a given date, publically funded entities shall priviledge and give preference to scientific results that have a clear documentation of registration. Evidence bases driving public policy should be based on pre registered studies only. The registered versus non-registered evidence bases should be compared to point out areas and directions of further investigation.