Improving the Dependability of Research in Personality and Social Psychology: Recommendations for Research and Educational Practice. (February 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Funder, David C.; Levine, John M.; Mackie, Diane M.; Morf, Carolyn C.; Sansone, Carol; Vazire, Simine; West, Stephen G.
• Is Part Of: Personality and social psychology review. Volume 18:Number 1(2014)
• Page Start: 3
• Page End: 12
• Publication Date: 2014-02
• Subjects: research methods -- educational practice -- effect size -- replicability -- statistics; Personality -- Periodicals; Social psychology -- Periodicals; 155.05
• DOI: 10.1177/1088868313507536
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1088-8683

Abstract

In this article, the Society for Personality and Social Psychology (SPSP) Task Force on Publication and Research Practices offers a brief statistical primer and recommendations for improving the dependability of research. Recommendations for research practice include (a) describing and addressing the choice of N (sample size) and consequent issues of statistical power, (b) reporting effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), (c) avoiding "questionable research practices" that can inflate the probability of Type I error, (d) making available research materials necessary to replicate reported results, (e) adhering to SPSP's data sharing policy, (f) encouraging publication of high-quality replication studies, and (g) maintaining flexibility and openness to alternative standards and methods. Recommendations for educational practice include (a) encouraging a culture of "getting it right, " (b) teaching and encouraging transparency of data reporting, (c) improving methodological instruction, and (d) modeling sound science and supporting junior researchers who seek to "get it right."