Scientists are unknowingly tweaking experiments and analysis methods to increase their chances of getting results that are easily published, according to research in PLOS Biology. The study investigated a type of publication bias called p-hacking, which happens when researchers either consciously or unconsciously analyse their data multiple times or in multiple ways until they get a desired result. "We found evidence that p-hacking is happening throughout the life sciences," said lead author Dr Megan Head from the Australian National University. If p-hacking is common, the exaggerated results could lead to misleading conclusions, even when evidence comes from multiple studies.
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