At the beginning of a study, researchers formulate a research question, formulate hypotheses and draft the study design. In doing so, they also define the scope of the study, the planned methods and analyses, and other relevant aspects.

Before data collection begins a preregistration should take place. This ensures that the research plans are clear and have been defined independently of the results of the study. Aspects that will not be available until later can, however, be additionally registered by researchers during the ongoing study.

For preregistration, researchers best register their study plans on an appropriate platform such as AsPredicted, the Open Science Framework (OSF) or the AEA RCT Registry for randomised controlled trials. Preregistration can take place either as an exclusively internal or private "local preregistration" or as a public preregistration on a platform, which is preferable for reasons of transparency.

When pre-registering, researchers provide detailed information about their research project, including the research question, hypotheses, methods and analysis plans. The OSF offers ready-made documents for pre-registration. At AsPredicted, researchers must answer nine questions about the planned research design and their analyses in order to pre-register a study. Similarly, when registering a trial in the AEA RCT Registry, several structured mandatory fields on the study design and planned analyses must be completed.

A DOI can also be assigned for pre-registration. After pre-registration, the study design is publicly available. Other researchers or the interested public can view, review or comment on it. The researchers then conduct the study according to the plan. This prevents subsequent changes or selective publication of the results. Once the results are available, they can be reviewed or replicated according to the study plan.