American Economic Association (AEA) RCT Registry

Definition

The American Economic Association (AEA) RCT Registry is a platform designed to promote transparency and reproducibility in economics research by allowing researchers to register their randomized controlled trials (RCTs). This registry helps ensure that the methods and outcomes of RCTs are publicly accessible, which is crucial for verifying results and preventing selective reporting or publication bias. By facilitating the sharing of research designs before the actual study is conducted, it enhances the credibility of findings in the field of economics.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The AEA RCT Registry was launched to combat issues like publication bias and selective reporting in economic research by ensuring that studies are documented in advance.
2. Researchers can register their studies before starting data collection, which includes detailed information about the methodology, hypotheses, and analysis plans.
3. The registry is open access, allowing researchers from different backgrounds to view registered studies, thereby fostering collaboration and learning within the economic community.
4. Having a record of registered RCTs helps facilitate meta-analyses and systematic reviews by providing comprehensive data on completed trials.
5. The AEA RCT Registry not only enhances reproducibility but also encourages researchers to adhere to rigorous standards in their experimental designs.

Review Questions

• How does the AEA RCT Registry promote transparency in economic research?
  • The AEA RCT Registry promotes transparency by requiring researchers to register their randomized controlled trials before conducting them. This pre-registration includes essential details such as the research question, methodology, and analysis plan, which are then publicly accessible. By documenting these aspects beforehand, it helps prevent selective reporting and enhances the overall integrity of economic research.
• What role does pre-registration play in addressing publication bias within the AEA RCT Registry?
  • Pre-registration plays a crucial role in addressing publication bias by ensuring that researchers commit to specific methods and outcomes before data collection begins. This process limits the potential for selective reporting, as researchers cannot change their hypotheses or outcomes post hoc to achieve favorable results. By having a clear record of planned studies, the AEA RCT Registry allows for a more accurate representation of research findings in economics.
• Evaluate the impact of the AEA RCT Registry on the credibility of economic research and discuss its implications for future studies.
  • The AEA RCT Registry significantly enhances the credibility of economic research by promoting transparency and accountability through pre-registration of trials. As researchers are held to their original study designs, this helps mitigate issues like publication bias and selective reporting. The implications for future studies include a more trustworthy body of evidence in economics, encouraging best practices in research methodology and fostering greater collaboration among scholars who can build upon well-documented findings.

Related terms

Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT): A study design that randomly assigns participants into experimental and control groups to test the effect of an intervention.

Pre-registration:

The practice of registering a study's design, hypotheses, and analysis plan before conducting the research to increase transparency.

Publication Bias:

The tendency for researchers to submit or for journals to publish positive results rather than negative or inconclusive ones, which can distort the scientific record.