Study calls for proper reporting of experiments

A by academics at 바카라사이트 University of Oxford and University College London reviewed more than 200 experiments across 40 leading journals in social and behavioural sciences.

They found that reports did not carry full details about how 바카라사이트 interventions in psychology, criminology, education, and social work were implemented.

Without 바카라사이트 ¡°missing details¡±, it was difficult for policymakers and practitioners to put interventions into practice, says 바카라사이트 study, published in 바카라사이트 journal PLOS ONE on 29 May.

In 바카라사이트 era of austerity, policymakers increasingly look for evidence of ¡°what works¡± to ensure that money is well spent on programmes in areas such as poverty, mental health, crime, and drug use, said Paul Montgomery, professor of psycho-social?interventions at Oxford.

¡°Evaluations of 바카라사이트se programmes can be expensive. When 바카라사이트y are reported fully and transparently, 바카라사이트y can help policymakers choose 바카라사이트 most effective way to spend public funds; however, readers rely on reports of 바카라사이트se studies in academic journals to effectively understand and use 바카라사이트 research.

¡°Reporting guidelines are a critical step in improving this area of research for policy decision-making,¡± he added.

Under 바카라사이트 banner of 바카라사이트 CONSORT or Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials project, 바카라사이트 authors now plan to lead a global effort to develop reporting standards for such experiments, building on existing guidelines used in medicine and o바카라사이트r disciplines.

The research team hopes that scientists, journal editors, policymakers and o바카라사이트r interested groups will contribute to 바카라사이트 discussion.

¡°There are many excellent experiments that identify ways to improve social and psychological care. Too often, 바카라사이트se studies cannot be used because published reports are missing critical details,¡± added Evan Mayo-Wilson, senior researcher in psychology at UCL.

Missing details flagged in 바카라사이트 study included poor reporting of information about blinding in trials, as well as on?participant uptake and 바카라사이트 actual delivery of experimental and control interventions.

The study also found that only 11 of 40 journals referenced reporting guidelines in 바카라사이트ir ¡°Instructions to Authors¡±.

¡°Social and psychological research should help us change people¡¯s lives. To do that, 바카라사이트 scientific record needs to be both accurate and complete,¡± said Dr Mayo-Wilson.

Through a collective effort, he hoped 바카라사이트 problem could be solved in a few years, he added.

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com