Meta-research matters: Meta-spin cycles, the blindness of bias, and rebuilding trust

PLoS Biol. 2018 Apr 2;16(4):e2005972. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2005972. eCollection 2018 Apr.

Abstract

Meta-research is research about research. Meta-research may not be as click-worthy as a meta-pug-a pug dog dressed up in a pug costume-but it is crucial to understanding research. A particularly valuable contribution of meta-research is to identify biases in a body of evidence. Bias can occur in the design, conduct, or publication of research and is a systematic deviation from the truth in results or inferences. The findings of meta-research can tell us which evidence to trust and what must be done to improve future research. We should be using meta-research to provide the evidence base for implementing systemic changes to improve research, not for discrediting it.

MeSH terms

  • Bias
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Humans
  • Meta-Analysis as Topic*
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / ethics
  • Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / statistics & numerical data*
  • Research Design / statistics & numerical data*
  • Trust / psychology

Grants and funding

The author received no specific funding for this work.