Methods reading room: what analytical reports actually establish · RESEARCH-25905

Case 251 — Retractions and expressions of concern in an archive · comparison exercise

Correction note for “Retractions and expressions of concern in an archive”: retain the wording beginning “Link the publisher notice beside the citation, record its date and…” in the record. If later material changes it, add the date, the changed wording and the source for that change; do not invent a completed correction here. Make the basis of a comparison explicit before interpreting it.

Case 251 — Retractions and expressions of concern in an archive · comparison exercise

Summary draft for “Retractions and expressions of concern in an archive”: the answer addresses “Link the publisher notice beside the citation, record its date and…”; the related point is “Do not leave the historical citation looking…”. Keep both connected to the opening question, and mark any conclusion needing further records as unresolved. Review focus: comparison. Make the basis of a comparison explicit before interpreting it.

Case 252 — Exploratory subgroup analysis: keep the label visible · comparison exercise

A subgroup finding was not the primary planned analysis. How should it be summarised?

Review focus: comparison. Make the basis of a comparison explicit before interpreting it. Use the original answer fragment “State whether it was prespecified and how…” as the discussion anchor; no new event or result is supplied.

Exercise RESEARCH-25905/252: address this question within its stated limits.

Case 251 — Retractions and expressions of concern in an archive · comparison exercise

Reader check for “Retractions and expressions of concern in an archive”: distinguish the discussion point “Link the publisher notice beside the citation, record its date and…” from its proposed application. The thread offers a way to reason about the question, without adding a personal experience or a newly observed outcome. Review focus: comparison. Make the basis of a comparison explicit before interpreting it.

Case 252 — Exploratory subgroup analysis: keep the label visible · comparison exercise

Clarification for “Exploratory subgroup analysis: keep the label visible”: the point beginning “State whether it was prespecified and how…” belongs to the question as written. It should not be read as a report that a new check, purchase or experiment has been completed. Review focus: comparison. Make the basis of a comparison explicit before interpreting it.

Case 252 — Exploratory subgroup analysis: keep the label visible · comparison exercise

Method note for “Exploratory subgroup analysis: keep the label visible”: use “State whether it was prespecified and how…” as a row heading in a proposed working record. Put the statement, its supporting source or measurement, and any unresolved detail in separate fields. This proposes a format; it supplies no additional evidence. Make the basis of a comparison explicit before interpreting it.

Case 252 — Exploratory subgroup analysis: keep the label visible · comparison exercise

Limit of the answer in “Exploratory subgroup analysis: keep the label visible”: “State whether it was prespecified and how…” is an excerpt from the discussion, not an independent verification. A reader needs the relevant original material before treating an interpretation as established. Review focus: comparison. Make the basis of a comparison explicit before interpreting it.

Case 252 — Exploratory subgroup analysis: keep the label visible · comparison exercise

Summary draft for “Exploratory subgroup analysis: keep the label visible”: the answer addresses “State whether it was prespecified and how…”; the related point is “Treat exploratory findings as hypothesis-generating rather…”. Keep both connected to the opening question, and mark any conclusion needing further records as unresolved. Review focus: comparison. Make the basis of a comparison explicit before interpreting it.

Case 252 — Exploratory subgroup analysis: keep the label visible · comparison exercise

Correction note for “Exploratory subgroup analysis: keep the label visible”: retain the wording beginning “State whether it was prespecified and how…” in the record. If later material changes it, add the date, the changed wording and the source for that change; do not invent a completed correction here. Make the basis of a comparison explicit before interpreting it.

Case 252 — Exploratory subgroup analysis: keep the label visible · comparison exercise

Reader check for “Exploratory subgroup analysis: keep the label visible”: distinguish the discussion point “State whether it was prespecified and how…” from its proposed application. The thread offers a way to reason about the question, without adding a personal experience or a newly observed outcome. Review focus: comparison. Make the basis of a comparison explicit before interpreting it.

Case 253 — Research figure captions: tell the reader what was measured · comparison exercise

Clarification for “Research figure captions: tell the reader what was measured”: the point beginning “Describe the measurement, population or model,…” belongs to the question as written. It should not be read as a report that a new check, purchase or experiment has been completed. Review focus: comparison. Make the basis of a comparison explicit before interpreting it.

Case 253 — Research figure captions: tell the reader what was measured · comparison exercise

A chart caption names a mechanism but omits the observed endpoint. How can the caption be made precise?

Review focus: comparison. Make the basis of a comparison explicit before interpreting it. Use the original answer fragment “Describe the measurement, population or model,…” as the discussion anchor; no new event or result is supplied.

Exercise RESEARCH-25905/253: address this question within its stated limits.

Case 253 — Research figure captions: tell the reader what was measured · comparison exercise

Method note for “Research figure captions: tell the reader what was measured”: use “Describe the measurement, population or model,…” as a row heading in a proposed working record. Put the statement, its supporting source or measurement, and any unresolved detail in separate fields. This proposes a format; it supplies no additional evidence. Make the basis of a comparison explicit before interpreting it.

Case 253 — Research figure captions: tell the reader what was measured · comparison exercise

Limit of the answer in “Research figure captions: tell the reader what was measured”: “Describe the measurement, population or model,…” is an excerpt from the discussion, not an independent verification. A reader needs the relevant original material before treating an interpretation as established. Review focus: comparison. Make the basis of a comparison explicit before interpreting it.

Case 253 — Research figure captions: tell the reader what was measured · comparison exercise

Correction note for “Research figure captions: tell the reader what was measured”: retain the wording beginning “Describe the measurement, population or model,…” in the record. If later material changes it, add the date, the changed wording and the source for that change; do not invent a completed correction here. Make the basis of a comparison explicit before interpreting it.