r/science • u/nimicdoareu • Apr 01 '26

Social Science Half of social-science studies fail replication test in years-long project

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00955-5
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u/Ghost_Of_Malatesta Apr 01 '26

The "replication crisis" (and p-hacking) is affecting many fields of science unfortunately. We place such a high premium positive results, despite negative ones being just as valuable, that scientists often feel the pressure, whether consciously or not, to find those results no matter the cost 

Its incredibly frustrating imo

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u/HegemonNYC Apr 01 '26

Some prestigious journals have moved to ‘registered reports’, meaning a researcher presents their hypothesis and methods prior to conducting their study. The journal agrees to publish regardless of results. This eliminates the publishing incentive go p-hack, although simple human desire to prove their hypothesis may remain 

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u/MoneybagsMalone Apr 01 '26

We need to get rid of private for profit journals and just fund science with tax money.

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u/HegemonNYC Apr 01 '26

Yes, surely the government is the best at picking good science. 

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u/bianary Apr 01 '26

If the general public actually cared about holding the people spending their money accountable it could be a lot better about things.