Pre-Registration and Pre-Analysis Plans in Experimental Economics

Taisuke Imai (), Séverine Toussaert (), Aurélien Baillon, Anna Dreber, Seda Ertaç, Magnus Johannesson, Levent Neyse and Marie Claire Villeval ()
Additional contact information
Taisuke Imai: The University of Osaka
Séverine Toussaert: University of Oxford
Aurélien Baillon: emlyon business school, CNRS, Université Lumière Lyon 2, Université Jean-Monnet Saint-Etienne, GATE
Seda Ertaç: Koç University
Levent Neyse: WZB, DIW Berlin
Marie Claire Villeval: CNRS, Université Lumière Lyon 2, Université Jean-Monnet Saint-Etienne, emlyon business school, GATE, IZA, Bonn, Germany

No 2511, Working Papers from Groupe d'Analyse et de Théorie Economique Lyon St-Étienne (GATE Lyon St-Étienne), Université de Lyon

Abstract: The open science movement has gained significant momentum over the past decade, with pre-registration and the use of pre-analysis plans being central to ongoing debates. Combining observational evidence on trends in adoption with survey data from 519 researchers, this study examines the adoption of pre-registration (potentially but not necessarily including pre-analysis plans) in experimental economics. Pooling statistics from 19 leading journals published between 2017 and 2023, we observe that the number of papers containing a pre-registration grew from seven per year to 190 per year. Our findings indicate that pre-registration has now become mainstream in experimental economics, with two-thirds of respondents expressing favorable views and 86% having pre-registered at least one study. However, opinions are divided on the scope and comprehensiveness of pre-registration, highlighting the need for clearer guidelines. Researchers assign a credibility premium to pre-registered tests, although the exact channels remain to be understood. Our results suggest growing support for open science practices among experimental economists, with demand for professional associations to guide researchers and reviewers on best practices for pre-registration and other open science initiatives.

Keywords: pre-registration; pre-analysis plans; experimental economics; open science (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A14 C12 C18 C80 C90 I23 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Related works:
Working Paper: Pre-Registration and Pre-Analysis Plans in Experimental Economics (2025)
Working Paper: Pre-Registration and Pre-Analysis Plans in Experimental Economics (2025)
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