P-hacking in Psychology Research

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

What did Simonsohn find when he analyzed the distribution of p-values in published psychology papers?

No correlation between p-values and research quality

A concentration of p-values around 0.05 (correct)

A uniform distribution of p-values

A lack of p-values in psychology papers

What motivates researchers to engage in p-hacking and similar manipulations?

Malice and a desire to deceive

A desire to uncover the truth

A lack of knowledge about statistical analysis

Pressure to publish and secure funding (correct)

What is HARKing, according to the text?

Hypothesizing after the results are known (correct)

Hypothesizing after the study is funded

Hypothesizing after the data is collected

Hypothesizing after the results are published

According to John Ioannidis, what is the likelihood that published research findings are true?

Mostly false Signup and view all the answers

Why do researchers often fall prey to p-hacking and similar manipulations?

They are unaware of their own biases Signup and view all the answers

What is John Ioannidis' approach to addressing the issue of false research findings?

Protecting science from these issues Signup and view all the answers

What is the goal, according to the concept mentioned?

To get less wrong over time Signup and view all the answers

Why do people tend to focus on extreme results, according to Ioannidis?

Because they satisfy people's craving for proof Signup and view all the answers

What is a key limitation of Ioannidis's study and similar research?

It only focuses on methodological flaws Signup and view all the answers

What is naive realism, according to the text?

The idea that whatever belief you hold, you believe it because it's true Signup and view all the answers

What is the implication of most experiments failing, according to the text?

Most of the things we try don't work out, but that's just the nature of the process Signup and view all the answers

What is the underlying issue that contributes to wrong ideas in research, according to the text?

The biased ways that the human mind forms beliefs Signup and view all the answers

What motivated the writer to create guidelines for contributors on statistical errors?

After finding errors in previously published papers in his journal Signup and view all the answers

Why do many reviewers not thoroughly check the methods and statistics sections of a paper?

They are not paid or rewarded for time-consuming peer review work Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of the lack of thorough peer review in some journals?

Publication of papers with statistical errors Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe journals that publish any author who pays?

Predatory publishers Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of Jeffrey Beall's list of journal publishers?

To identify predatory publishers Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of the proliferation of predatory publishers?

Creation of opportunities for crackpots to give their unscientific views a veneer of legitimacy Signup and view all the answers