EGAP has been piloting a registration tool here. The basic idea is that registration of research designs limits the scope for “data fishing” and renders published results more credible; in addition it provides a tool for assessing the scope and effects of publication bias.
Some researchers however have been finding that the complexity involved in experiments in political economy requires the registration of significantly more detailed analysis plans than can be handled by a simple form (for one of first instances of this form of detailed registration in this see area see Casey et al’s August 2009 posting to the JPAL network (Appendix A here)).
EGAP is now accepting and posting detailed preanalysis plans of this form and we encourage members to send plans in for posting. In some cases designs may be sensitive, in these cases EGAP will accept plans and archive them with an agreed trigger for posting.
Archived Designs
[3] 20120220: Beath, Christia, Enikolopov Randomized Impact Evaluation of Afghanistan’s National Solidarity Programme — Final Report Posted to EGAP on 20 February 2012
[2] 20120117: Beath, Christia, Enikolopov Randomized Impact Evaluation Of Afghanistan’s National Solidarity Programme – Village Benefit Distribution Analysis Posted to EGAP on 17 January 2012
[1] 20110307: Humphreys, Sanchez de la Sierra, and van de Windt Congo CDR registration design and Mock Report, posted to EGAP on 7 March 2011