A preregistration is a timestamped document in which researchers record their research plans before conducting their study. It can be made public immediately after registration or kept private under an embargo until a specified date, for example, until the study is published. It records the research questions, hypotheses, research design and analysis strategies, making them transparent for others. This makes any later deviations from the plan recognisable. That reduces the scope for distorting or adjusting results after the fact without it being noticed. It is also of great benefit to scientific progress if disproven hypotheses and non-significant results are published.

If researchers record their hypotheses and research design in advance, this reduces the risk that results are interpreted or selected after the fact in a way that supports the original hypothesis. Preregistering the study design and analysis plan can therefore reduce distortions and strengthen the credibility of research. This applies especially when the preregistration includes a specific analysis plan and deviations are disclosed in the publication. Preregistration can thus make an important contribution to addressing the replication crisis. However, it may not be equally suitable for all kinds of research or publications. Some journals already offer Registered Reports as a publication format. This model could become more widespread in the future.

The additional effort for preregistration is often smaller than expected. As the documentation is similar in form to a methods section, much of the work overlaps with research planning that is necessary anyway. Templates with predefined questions make it easier to get started and help ensure that no relevant aspects are overlooked.