Article Version of Record

Aftermath of the Stapel case: more alarming data, the beggining of change?

Author(s) / Creator(s)

Budzicz, Łukasz

Abstract / Description

This article adds to the discussion that took place in Psychologia Społeczna (no. 3/2012) concerning the reliability of research findings in social psychology. In recent years a number of new data indicated that Stapel᾿s fraud might not have been an isolated case, but a symptom of a larger crisis. Even if most researchers do not fabricate data, subtle falsification involving arbitrary data processing and selective presentation of results may be relatively frequent and lead to a distorted picture of reality. Especially telling in this context are analyses, that show improbable distributions of p-values (p-curve analysis), distortions in reporting p-values, and very low cumulative statistical power of research studies. This article presents the most important voices about how to change research and publication practices. Described were examples where such changes have already been initiated.

Keyword(s)

Stapel's fraud reliability of data in psychology false-positive psychology statistical power

Persistent Identifier

Date of first publication

2015

Journal title

Psychologia Społeczna

Volume

10

Issue

35

Page numbers

419-434

Publisher

Wydawnictwo Naukowe Scholar

Publication status

publishedVersion

Review status

peerReviewed

Is version of

Citation

  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Budzicz, Łukasz
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2025-07-10T14:32:26Z
  • Made available on
    2025-07-10T14:32:26Z
  • Date of first publication
    2015
  • Abstract / Description
    This article adds to the discussion that took place in Psychologia Społeczna (no. 3/2012) concerning the reliability of research findings in social psychology. In recent years a number of new data indicated that Stapel᾿s fraud might not have been an isolated case, but a symptom of a larger crisis. Even if most researchers do not fabricate data, subtle falsification involving arbitrary data processing and selective presentation of results may be relatively frequent and lead to a distorted picture of reality. Especially telling in this context are analyses, that show improbable distributions of p-values (p-curve analysis), distortions in reporting p-values, and very low cumulative statistical power of research studies. This article presents the most important voices about how to change research and publication practices. Described were examples where such changes have already been initiated.
    en
  • Publication status
    publishedVersion
  • Review status
    peerReviewed
  • ISSN
    1896-1800
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/12125
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.16721
  • Language of content
    pol
  • Publisher
    Wydawnictwo Naukowe Scholar
  • Is version of
    https://doi.org/10.7366/1896180020153505
  • Keyword(s)
    Stapel's fraud
    en
  • Keyword(s)
    reliability of data in psychology
    en
  • Keyword(s)
    false-positive psychology
    en
  • Keyword(s)
    statistical power
    en
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    Aftermath of the Stapel case: more alarming data, the beggining of change?
    en
  • DRO type
    article
  • Issue
    35
  • Journal title
    Psychologia Społeczna
  • Page numbers
    419-434
  • Volume
    10
  • Visible tag(s)
    Version of Record