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Data and Code for: Methods Matter: P-Hacking and Publication Bias in Causal Analysis in Economics

Principal Investigator(s): View help for Principal Investigator(s) Abel Brodeur, University of Ottawa; Nikolai Cook, University of Ottawa; Anthony Heyes, University of Ottawa

Version: View help for Version V1

Name	File Type	Size	Last Modified
Fstat.dta	application/x-stata	1.2 MB	03/23/2020 01:34:PM
MM Data with WP.dta	application/x-stata	77.9 MB	03/14/2020 09:34:AM
MM Data.dta	application/x-stata	94.5 MB	07/12/2020 05:28:PM
Readme.pdf	application/pdf	84.9 KB	07/31/2020 06:45:AM
Star Wars Data.dta	application/x-stata	1.6 MB	03/14/2020 09:34:AM
Table A11.do	text/x-stata-syntax	4 KB	09/12/2017 09:33:AM
figure1a.png	image/png	66.2 KB	07/08/2020 03:27:AM
figure1b.png	image/png	44.8 KB	07/06/2020 05:18:AM
figure2.png	image/png	77 KB	07/06/2020 05:19:AM
figure3a.png	image/png	45.2 KB	07/06/2020 05:19:AM

Project Citation:

Brodeur, Abel, Cook, Nikolai, and Heyes, Anthony. Data and Code for: Methods Matter: P-Hacking and Publication Bias in Causal Analysis in Economics. Nashville, TN: American Economic Association [publisher], 2020. Ann Arbor, MI: Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research [distributor], 2020-09-15. https://doi.org/10.3886/E120246V1

Project Description

Summary: The credibility revolution in economics has promoted causal identification using randomized control trials (RCT), difference-in-differences (DID), instrumental variables (IV) and regression discontinuity design (RDD). Applying multiple approaches to over 21,000 hypothesis tests published in 25 leading economics journals we find that the extent of p-hacking and publication bias varies greatly by method. IV (and to a lesser extent DID) are particularly problematic. We find no evidence that: (1) Papers published in the `Top 5' journals are different to other; (2) The journal revise and resubmit process mitigates the problem; (3) Things are improving through time.

Scope of Project

Subject Terms: p-hacking; publication bias; research methods; causal inference; p-curves

JEL Classification:
      A11 Role of Economics; Role of Economists; Market for Economists
      B41 Economic Methodology
      C13 Estimation: General
      C40 Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics: General
      I23 Higher Education; Research Institutions

Time Period(s): 1/1/2015 – 12/31/2018 (2015 and 2018)

Data Type(s): other

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Published Versions

V2 [2022-02-16]

V1 [2020-09-15]

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