IDEA FOUND // IDEA 118
Preregistration
“Writing down the plan before seeing results changes what can honestly be presented as a prediction.”
01 / PLAINLY
What it means, plainly
Preregistration records a research plan before the data are inspected. It shows what was predicted in advance and what was discovered through later exploration.
02 / CONTEXT
A little more
Preregistration records hypotheses, variables, and analyses before data inspection. It helps separate confirmatory tests from later exploration; it does not forbid exploration when clearly labeled.
03 / WHY IT MATTERS
Why it matters
It lets readers see when the hypothesis and analysis were chosen, so an unexpected finding is not presented as an advance prediction.
04 / EXAMPLE
A familiar example
A team fixes its primary outcome and model before opening the dataset, then separately reports an unexpected pattern found during exploration.
05 / LIMIT
What it does not mean
A registered plan does not guarantee sound design, adherence, or correct conclusions.
06 / NOTICE
Notice it in your day
Before tossing a coin ten times, write down the pattern you will test and how you will count it. Keep any new pattern you notice in a separate note.
FINAL NOTE
The idea worth keeping
Look for transparency about when each analytic decision was made.
QUESTIONS / 02
Questions people still have
What distinction does preregistration help reveal?
The difference between a test planned before seeing data and exploration performed afterward.
Does preregistration guarantee a correct conclusion?
No. Design quality, adherence, and interpretation still need scrutiny.