On Methods and Marshmallows: A Roadmap for Science That Is Openly Feminist and Radically Open

2021 ◽  
pp. 036168432110326
Author(s):  
Sarah J. Gervais ◽  
Amanda E. Baildon ◽  
Tierney K. Lorenz
Keyword(s):  
Open Science ◽  
Feminist Psychology ◽  
Sample Sizes ◽  
Large Sample ◽  
Feminist Science ◽  
Constructive Analysis ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Benefits And Costs ◽  
Open Materials

In this commentary, we argue that feminist science and open science can benefit from each other’s wisdom and critiques in service of creating systems that produce the highest quality science with the maximum potential for improving the lives of women. To do this, we offer a constructive analysis, focusing on common methods used in open science, including open materials and data, preregistration, and large sample sizes, and illuminate potential benefits and costs from a feminist science perspective. We also offer some solutions and deeper questions both for individual researchers and the feminist psychology and open science communities. By broadening our focus from a myopic prioritization of certain methodological and analytic approaches in open science, we hope to give a balanced perspective of science that emerges from each movement’s strengths and is openly feminist and radically open.

Pre-Registration in the Undergraduate Dissertation: A Critical Discussion

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madeleine Pownall
Keyword(s):  
Resource Constraints ◽  
Open Science ◽  
Critical Discussion ◽  
Perceived Barriers ◽  
Science Literature ◽  
Statistics Anxiety ◽  
Questionable Research Practices ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Data Analysis Plan

Currently under review at Psychology Teaching Review. Over recent years, Psychology has become increasingly concerned with reproducibility and replicability of research findings (Munafò et al., 2017). One method of ensuring that research is hypothesis driven, as opposed to data driven, is the process of publicly pre-registering a study’s hypotheses, data analysis plan, and procedure prior to data collection (Nosek, Ebersole, DeHaven, & Mellor, 2018). This paper discusses the potential benefits of introducing pre-registration to the undergraduate dissertation. The utility of pre-registration as a pedagogic practice within dissertation supervision is also critically appraised, with reference to open science literature. Here, it is proposed that encouraging pre-registration of undergraduate dissertation work may alleviate some pedagogic challenges, such as statistics anxiety, questionable research practices, and research clarity and structure. Perceived barriers, such as time and resource constraints, are also discussed.

scholarly journals High heterogeneity undermines generalization of differential expression results in RNA-Seq analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Weitong Cui ◽  
Huaru Xue ◽  
Lei Wei ◽  
Jinghua Jin ◽  
Xuewen Tian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Differential Expression ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Differentially Expressed ◽  
Cancer Type ◽  
Rna Seq ◽  
Sample Sizes ◽  
Large Sample ◽  
Expression Levels ◽  
Gene Expression Levels

Abstract Background RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) has been widely applied in oncology for monitoring transcriptome changes. However, the emerging problem that high variation of gene expression levels caused by tumor heterogeneity may affect the reproducibility of differential expression (DE) results has rarely been studied. Here, we investigated the reproducibility of DE results for any given number of biological replicates between 3 and 24 and explored why a great many differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were not reproducible. Results Our findings demonstrate that poor reproducibility of DE results exists not only for small sample sizes, but also for relatively large sample sizes. Quite a few of the DEGs detected are specific to the samples in use, rather than genuinely differentially expressed under different conditions. Poor reproducibility of DE results is mainly caused by high variation of gene expression levels for the same gene in different samples. Even though biological variation may account for much of the high variation of gene expression levels, the effect of outlier count data also needs to be treated seriously, as outlier data severely interfere with DE analysis. Conclusions High heterogeneity exists not only in tumor tissue samples of each cancer type studied, but also in normal samples. High heterogeneity leads to poor reproducibility of DEGs, undermining generalization of differential expression results. Therefore, it is necessary to use large sample sizes (at least 10 if possible) in RNA-Seq experimental designs to reduce the impact of biological variability and DE results should be interpreted cautiously unless soundly validated.

Open science reforms: Strengths, challenges, and future directions

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn R. Wentzel
Keyword(s):  
Research Design ◽  
Educational Psychology ◽  
Open Science ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Science Practices ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
The Impact

In this article, I comment on the potential benefits and limitations of open science reforms for improving the transparency and accountability of research, and enhancing the credibility of research findings within communities of policy and practice. Specifically, I discuss the role of replication and reproducibility of research in promoting better quality studies, the identification of generalizable principles, and relevance for practitioners and policymakers. Second, I suggest that greater attention to theory might contribute to the impact of open science practices, and discuss ways in which theory has implications for sampling, measurement and research design. Ambiguities concerning the aims of preregistration and registered reports also are highlighted. In conclusion, I discuss structural roadblocks to open science reform and reflect on the relevance of these reforms for educational psychology.

EU merger review of the acquisition of non-controlling minority shareholdings: where to now?

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-92
Author(s):  
Frank Montag ◽  
Mary Wilks
Keyword(s):  
White Paper ◽  
Merger Control ◽  
Eu Merger Control ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
One Year ◽  
Minority Shareholdings ◽  
Minority Interests ◽  
Policy Proposals ◽  
Benefits And Costs ◽  
The Eu

AbstractOn 9 July 2014, the European Commission (the Commission) published its White Paper “Towards more effective EU merger control”, which reviewed the operation of the EU Merger Regulation (EUMR) ten years after the introduction of the substantive test of “significant impediment to substantial competition” (SIEC) and proposed certain specific improvements, including the review of non-controlling minority interests under the EUMR. The 2014 White Paper followed approximately one year of consultation with Member States and interested parties, and was accompanied by a Staff Working Document, which analyses in more detail the considerations underlying the policy proposals in the 2014 White Paper, and an Impact Assessment, which analyses the potential benefits and costs of the various policy options considered.Less than six months after the consultation on the 2014 White Paper closed, Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager indicated that the Commission is reconsidering its proposals to allow it to review the acquisition of non-controlling minority shareholdings under the EUMR. This decision has been welcomed by many in the business and legal community as the “targeted transparency system” proposed by the Commission had raised a number of concerns regarding proportionality, legal certainty, cost and administrative burden.Whilst we await the Commission’s next move, this article considers whether non-controlling minority shareholdings should be subject to EU merger control and the extent to which the Commission’s originally envisaged system adequately dealt with the issues it sought to address. This article also proposes a number of principles that the authors suggest should be taken into account when designing a balanced system of merger review for acquisitions of non-controlling minority shareholdings in which the burden of the additional review is proportionate to the goals pursued.

Very large sample sizes

BMJ ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 338 (feb25 2) ◽  
pp. b737-b737 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Fletcher
Keyword(s):  
Sample Sizes ◽  
Large Sample

scholarly journals Does Concealing a Sexual Minority Identity Prevent Exposure to Prejudice?

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1056-1064 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin X. Goh ◽  
Daniel N. Kort ◽  
Avery M. Thurston ◽  
Lina R. Benson ◽  
Cheryl R. Kaiser
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Sexual Minorities ◽  
Null Model ◽  
The Self ◽  
Protective Properties ◽  
Intergroup Interactions ◽  
Bayesian Inferences ◽  
Sexual Orientations ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Benefits And Costs

Concealing a stigmatized identity is considered self-protective in that it presumably decreases exposure to bias during intergroup interactions relative to disclosing the identity. We conducted two studies exploring sexual minorities’ expectations about the self-protective properties of concealment and the reality concerning whether concealment prevents exposure to bias. In Study 1, half of sexual minorities who imagined interacting with a straight peer chose to conceal their identity, and this was predicted by the belief that concealment carries protective benefits. Study 2 randomly assigned sexual minorities to reveal or conceal their sexual orientations in actual interactions with straight peers. Neither sexual minority partners nor independent sexual minority coders perceived less bias among straight partners who interacted with sexual minorities concealing versus disclosing their identities. This was confirmed with Bayesian inferences demonstrating more evidence for the null model than the alternative. We discuss the potential benefits and costs of disclosure.

Concentration inequalities for the empirical distribution of discrete distributions: beyond the method of types

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 813-850 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay Mardia ◽  
Jiantao Jiao ◽  
Ervin Tánczos ◽  
Robert D Nowak ◽  
Tsachy Weissman
Keyword(s):  
Sample Size ◽  
Empirical Distribution ◽  
Discrete Distributions ◽  
Concentration Inequalities ◽  
Sample Sizes ◽  
Alphabet Size ◽  
Large Sample ◽  
Kl Divergence ◽  
The Difference ◽  
True Distribution

Abstract We study concentration inequalities for the Kullback–Leibler (KL) divergence between the empirical distribution and the true distribution. Applying a recursion technique, we improve over the method of types bound uniformly in all regimes of sample size $n$ and alphabet size $k$, and the improvement becomes more significant when $k$ is large. We discuss the applications of our results in obtaining tighter concentration inequalities for $L_1$ deviations of the empirical distribution from the true distribution, and the difference between concentration around the expectation or zero. We also obtain asymptotically tight bounds on the variance of the KL divergence between the empirical and true distribution, and demonstrate their quantitatively different behaviours between small and large sample sizes compared to the alphabet size.

Dams: Effects of Hydrological Infrastructure on Development

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-148
Author(s):  
Andrew Dillon ◽  
Ram Fishman
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Flood Control ◽  
The Body ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Emerging Issues ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Benefits And Costs ◽  
Distributional Impacts

Hydrological investments, particularly irrigation dams, have multiple potential benefits for economic development. Dams also have financial, environmental, and distributional impacts that can affect their benefits and costs. This article reviews the evidence on the impact of dams on economic development, focusing on the levels and variability of agricultural productivity, and its effect on poverty, health, electricity generation, and flood control. We also review the evidence on irrigation efficiency and collective action of dam maintenance. Throughout the discussion, we highlight the empirical challenges that restrict the body of causally interpretable impact estimates and areas in which the evidence is particularly thin. We conclude with a discussion of emerging issues pertaining to the long-term sustainability of dams’ impacts and suggest directions for future research.

Internationalization of Higher Education: Potential Benefits and Costs

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tahira Jibeen ◽  
Masha Asad Khan
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
International Relations ◽  
Quality Education ◽  
Internationalization Of Higher Education ◽  
Quality Of Education ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Current Review ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Benefits And Costs

<div><p class="Els-Abstract-head">Abstract</p></div><p>Internationalization of higher education is the top stage of international relations among universities and it is no longer regarded as a goal in itself, but as a means to improve the quality of education.  The knowledge translation and acquisition, mobilization of talent in support of global research and enchantment of the curriculum with international content are considered to be the benefits of internationalization of higher education. Though, internationalization holds many positives to higher education, there are grave risks associated with this multifaceted and growing phenomenon. Negative aspects include commercial profit, academic colonization and difficulty in ensuring quality education. The current review has implications for educational policy makers to ensure positive and reciprocal benefits to the higher education institutions and the countries concerned.</p><p> </p>

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