Registering projects and hypotheses: Strengthening prospective psychotherapy research

Evidence-based practice relies on strong tests of our theories in relevant empirical data. Such strong tests require both a foundation in our theoretical frameworks as well as concrete hypothesising before the data are known. Such studies are an important part of an ensemble of research designs and using registration processes helps to bring such projects to full fruition. Registering research addresses two dangers that such research faces. Firstly, weak theory building before a study commences, combined with strong reliance on post-hoc theorising once the results are known. And the second are the problems that arise from undisclosed degrees of freedom in decision making during the analysis and reporting stages of a project. Registration of research has not been without critique or failure in other disciplines (medical and particularly trials-based research), but at the moment it is certainly under-utilised in psychotherapy research. The aim of the presentation is to illustrate how registrations and in particular Registered Reports can be used strategically in research planning. Based on prominent examples and registrations from our research group, it will be shown how registrations can fit into the workflows of different research strategies in psychotherapy research. One of the results of this analysis is that since Registered Reports were developed in settings that focus often on very small and well-described projects, they may be well suited for smaller projects, and they likely can benefit most from including Registered Reports in their project development plans. While mainly focused on prospective quantitative research, extensions and opportunities for secondary and qualitative research will be highlighted.