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Lessons from the p-value debate and the replication crisis for "open Q science" – the editor's perspective or: will the revolution devour its children?

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  • Hüttel, Silke
  • Hess, Sebastian

Abstract

The scientific production system is of ultimate importance for the way how humans address global challenges. Recently, scholars have begun to voice concerns about structural inefficiencies within this system, as e.g. the replication crisis, the p-value debate or the identification of various forms of publication bias have brought up. Most suggested remedies tend to address only partial aspects of the system's inefficiencies, while no unifying agenda towards an overall transformation of the system has yet emerged. We argue that a unifying agenda is even more urgently needed in light of Artificial intelligence (AI) that is arising as a tool for scientific writing services. Without appropriate reactions from the Q science community, this trend may even exponentiate present credibility problems due to limited replicability and ritual-based statistical practice, while amplifying all forms of already existing biases. Our review of these developments suggests that näive openness in the science system alone will unlikely lead to major efficiency gains. We contribute by identifying key elements for the definition of transformation pathways towards open, democratic and conscious learning, teaching, reviewing and publishing that will be supported by openly maintained AI tools. As part of this transition, roles and incentives for reviewers will have to gain in relation to authors: Future Q scientists will have to write less, learn differently and review more.

Suggested Citation

  • Hüttel, Silke & Hess, Sebastian, 2023. "Lessons from the p-value debate and the replication crisis for "open Q science" – the editor's perspective or: will the revolution devour its children?," DARE Discussion Papers 2302, Georg-August University of Göttingen, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development (DARE).
  • Handle: RePEc:zbw:daredp:2302
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    References listed on IDEAS

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