Decentralized Science: How it Can Help to Address the Reproducibility Crisis in Research — Part One
If you had been following us, you would have observed that we are focused on how blockchain can actually affect science. In our last article, we discussed how blockchain can help revolutionize global health. If you missed that, don’t worry; you can read it here. Today, we will be discussing how blockchain can address a somewhat major issue in science and research. What is this? Reproducibility.
What Is Reproducibility, and Reproducibility Crisis?
Reproducibility basically means that when others redo a study using the same methods, they should get the same results. Only when this happens multiple times with different researchers should we consider it scientific knowledge.
The reproducibility crisis is a methodological crisis in which the results of many scientific studies are difficult or impossible to reproduce. Because the reproducibility of empirical results is an essential part of the scientific method, such failures undermine the credibility of theories built on them and potentially call into question substantial parts of scientific knowledge.
There are a number of factors that contribute to the reproducibility crisis, including:
- Publication bias: Publication bias is a tendency for journals to publish positive results more often than negative results. This can lead to a distorted view of the scientific literature, as it can make it seem like certain results are more reliable than they actually are.
- Small sample sizes: Many studies are conducted with small sample sizes. This can make it difficult to generalize the results of the study to a larger population.
- Poor research practices: Some researchers may engage in poor research practices, such as p-hacking and HARKing. These practices can increase the chances of getting a statistically significant result, but they can also lead to false positives.
- Lack of transparency: Many studies do not provide enough information about how the study was conducted, making it difficult for other researchers to reproduce the study.
How can blockchain address the reproducibility crisis?
Here are some of the ways in which blockchain can complement existing research methods to address the reproducibility crisis:
- Data provenance and integrity: Blockchain can be used to establish and maintain data provenance, recording the origin and history of research data. Each step of data collection, processing, and analysis can be time-stamped and securely stored on the blockchain. This ensures the integrity of data and prevents unauthorized alterations, enhancing the credibility of research.
- Transparent data sharing: Blockchain facilitates secure and transparent data sharing among researchers. Research data can be stored on a blockchain, and access can be governed by smart contracts. This allows data owners to specify who can access their data and under what conditions. Researchers can access shared data with confidence, knowing that it has not been tampered with.
- Smart contracts for study protocols: Researchers can use smart contracts to define and automate study protocols. These contracts can predefine criteria for data collection, analysis, and reporting. By following the rules encoded in the smart contract, researchers can reduce the risk of p-hacking and HARKing, which are common contributors to irreproducibility.
- Decentralized collaboration: Blockchain’s decentralized nature enables collaboration among researchers from different institutions and locations. It reduces the influence of centralized control and bias. Researchers can participate in the research process, verify the results, and collaborate on replication studies, enhancing the reliability of research findings.
- Immutable records of research findings: Research results, reports, and publications can be stored on a blockchain. This ensures the immutability of research findings, making it clear that these findings have not been altered after their initial publication. Others can verify and reproduce the results more confidently.
- Blockchain-based research platforms: Blockchain-based research platforms can be developed to support the entire research process, from data collection and analysis to publication and dissemination. These platforms could incorporate features such as decentralized peer review, open data sharing, and smart contracts for study protocols.
It is important to note that blockchain is still a relatively new technology, and there are a number of challenges that need to be addressed before it can be widely adopted in scientific research. For example, blockchain networks can be slow and expensive to use, and there is a lack of awareness and understanding of blockchain among many researchers. However, we believe that blockchain has the potential to revolutionize the way we conduct and communicate science. By enhancing transparency, data integrity, and collaboration, blockchain can help create a more reliable and reproducible scientific enterprise.
