Optimizing Research Output: How Can Psychological Research Methods Be Improved?

Recent evidence suggests that research practices in psychology and many other disciplines are far less effective than previously assumed, which has led to what has been called a "crisis of confidence" in psychological research (e.g., Pashler & Wagenmakers 2012 ). In response to the per...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annual review of psychology 2022-01, Vol.73 (1), p.691-718
Main Authors: Miller, Jeff, Ulrich, Rolf
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
alpha level
Data
false positives
Humans
hypothesis testing
International trade
Medical research
power
Psychological aspects
Psychology
replication
Research Design
research efficiency
Research methodology
Scrutiny
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Summary:Recent evidence suggests that research practices in psychology and many other disciplines are far less effective than previously assumed, which has led to what has been called a "crisis of confidence" in psychological research (e.g., Pashler & Wagenmakers 2012 ). In response to the perceived crisis, standard research practices have come under intense scrutiny, and various changes have been suggested to improve them. The burgeoning field of metascience seeks to use standard quantitative data-gathering and modeling techniques to understand the reasons for inefficiency, to assess the likely effects of suggested changes, and ultimately to tell psychologists how to do better science. We review the pros and cons of suggested changes, highlighting the many complex research trade-offs that must be addressed to identify better methods.
ISSN:0066-4308
1545-2085
DOI:10.1146/annurev-psych-020821-094927