How to increase the efficiency, quality, and impact of scientific research? Scientists from the Ruđer Bošković Institute (IRB) together with colleagues from Bond University and the University of New South Wales have shown that registering research plans before starting research is a key factor in increasing transparency and reliability of research. Despite this, registration is rare in most scientific disciplines. In a new paper published in the scientific journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, the research team described methods to promote and implement this important practice.

What exactly is registration? For effective scientific research, it is necessary to create and implement a rigorous research plan. Such a plan clearly defines hypotheses, questions, and goals, as well as methods of data collection and processing, thereby reducing bias and ensuring statistical validity and scientific value of the results. The plan should be reviewed by several other experts and revised as needed, thereby improving the research, optimizing resource use, and enabling the assessment of feasibility and ethics of the research.

By sharing the research plan, researchers can receive valuable feedback and ensure their research is designed robustly and ethically. Therefore, it is not surprising that registration is a funding requirement for clinical research. Unfortunately, this is not the case in many other scientific fields.

Marija Purgar, a Ph.D. student at IRB, explains
Registration allows early identification of potential problems in study design, making research more reliable and effective in responding to environmental challenges. When scientists register their plans, other researchers can review them and suggest improvements before data collection and analysis. This process helps in early problem detection, making research more reliable. By adhering to a clear, publicly shared plan, researchers can avoid repeating some already conducted studies or common mistakes, saving time and resources and maximizing the impact of the research.

Better quality research with fewer errors and lost data leads to faster, more accurate, and precise results useful in solving real-world problems, whether it is improving health, protecting the environment, or policies. Relying on successful research registration practices in medicine, the study authors advocate a coordinated effort to integrate the registration method into ecological research as well.

It is estimated that 82 – 89% of ecological research and 85% of medical research has limited or no value to end users due to various inefficiencies. The study claims that registration and registered reports can significantly improve the quality and impact of ecological research.

However, establishing registration as a common practice will not happen quickly. The research team calls on research funding agencies, publishers, and research institutions to actively support and encourage scientists to register their research.

An effective registration system
To facilitate the establishment of registration, the researchers described in the paper the key steps for designing an effective registration system tailored to ecology. They emphasized the need for further research to better understand and overcome barriers to registration in this field. They proposed short-term and long-term actions to promote registration, including educating researchers on the benefits of registration and developing simple registration systems. They also emphasize the importance of supporting other open science practices to further improve research quality.

Why are the results of this research important to society? Ensuring that funds invested in research are maximized improves the quality of ecological research, which directly affects the ability to respond to environmental issues. By improving the reliability and impact of research, better strategies are developed for protecting our planet, improving public health, and creating sustainable solutions for future generations.

The research was funded by the Croatian Science Foundation (HRZZ) through project no. DOK-2021-02-6688 and project EcoOpen no. IP-2022-10-2872.