Overestimation of good research practices: Are we all just a bit too confident?

Monday - March 11 2024, 12:46 UTC - 1 year ago

A study with over 33,000 researchers at Swedish universities found that most researchers overestimate their adherence to good research practices as well as their research field's. This can lead to blind spots and jeopardize the credibility of research results.

In a new study by researchers at Linköping University, Sweden, it was found that most researchers have an overestimation of their own and their research field's adherence to good research practices. The survey, which was sent to over 33,000 researchers and doctoral students at Swedish universities, asked participants to rate themselves on a seven-point scale for following good research practices compared to their colleagues and their research field compared to other fields.

The results showed that an overwhelming majority of researchers rated themselves as at least as good, if not better, than their colleagues at following good research practices. Similarly, most researchers believed their own research field to be as good or better than other fields at following good research practices. This was found to be true across all research fields, with the effect being most prominent in the field of medicine.

The researchers at Linköping University warn that this overestimation of good research practices can lead to a risk of becoming blind to one's own shortcomings. While the inaccuracies are rarely of a scandalous nature, they can have a significant impact on the credibility and replicability of research results. According to the study's lead author, Gustav Tinghög, if everyone could look at themselves objectively, an even distribution around the middle would be expected.

The study also highlights the importance of consistently adhering to good research practices in order to maintain the integrity and credibility of scientific research. Small missteps in everyday procedures and data reporting can ultimately lead to larger issues and undermine the trust in scientific findings.

Ultimately, the study draws attention to the need for researchers to critically examine their own ethical behavior and constantly strive towards improvement and transparency in their research practices.