Hi all
Flawed methodology in scientific studies is widespread, the journal Nature reports:

“You can’t rely on where the work was done or where it was published,” says Macleod.

The most-cited scientific journals don't necessarily publish papers with more robust methods, Macleod adds. In fact, in 2011, the median journal impact factor was generally lower for studies that reported randomization than for publications that didn't.

The researchers also looked at papers submitted by leading UK institutions to a national research-quality audit. They found that work done at the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, University College London, Imperial College London and the University of Edinburgh reported randomization only 14% of the time, and blinding only 17% of the time where it would have been appropriate. Of more than 1,000 publications, only one reported all four bias-reducing measures.

“Although sobering, the findings of this paper are not a surprise, as they add to the existing body of evidence on the need for more rigorous assessments of the experimental design and methodology used in animal research. This is another wake-up call for the scientific community.”

Jonathan Kimmelman, the biomedical ethicist who led the work, says that journal editors, referees, institutions and researchers must all take responsibility for the poor quality of reporting and the consequent risk of bias. “There’s plenty of blame to go round,” he says.

Poorly designed animal experiments in the spotlight: High-status journals or institutions no guarantees of carefully-reported trials. 13 October 2015. http://www.nature.com/news/

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