p-hacking
Definition
Exploiting techniques that may artificially increase the likelihood of obtaining a statistically significant result by meeting the standard statistical significance criterion (typically α = .05). For example, performing multiple analyses and reporting only those at p < .05, selectively removing data until p < .05, selecting variables for use in analyses based on whether those parameters are statistically significant.
References:
- Hardwicke, T. E., Jameel, L., Jones, M., Walczak, E. J., & Weinberg, L. M. (2014). Only human: Scientists, systems, and suspect statistics. Opticon1826, 16, 25. https://doi.org/10.5334/OPT.CH
- Neuroskeptic. (2012). The nine circles of scientific hell. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 7(6), 643–644. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691612459519
Originally drafted by: Mahmoud Elsherif
Reviewed by: Tamara Kalandadze, William Ngiam, Sam Parsons, Martin Vasilev
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