291 lines
10 KiB
Markdown
291 lines
10 KiB
Markdown
# Scientific Reporting Standards and Guidelines
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This document catalogs major reporting standards and guidelines across scientific disciplines. When reviewing manuscripts, verify that authors have followed the appropriate guidelines for their study type and discipline.
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## Clinical Trials and Medical Research
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### CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials)
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**Purpose:** Randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
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**Key Requirements:**
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- Trial design, participants, and interventions clearly described
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- Primary and secondary outcomes specified
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- Sample size calculation and statistical methods
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- Participant flow through trial (enrollment, allocation, follow-up, analysis)
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- Baseline characteristics of participants
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- Numbers analyzed in each group
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- Outcomes and estimation with confidence intervals
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- Adverse events
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- Trial registration number and protocol access
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**Reference:** http://www.consort-statement.org/
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### STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology)
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**Purpose:** Observational studies (cohort, case-control, cross-sectional)
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**Key Requirements:**
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- Study design clearly stated
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- Setting, eligibility criteria, and participant sources
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- Variables clearly defined
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- Data sources and measurement methods
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- Bias assessment
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- Sample size justification
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- Statistical methods including handling of missing data
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- Participant flow and characteristics
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- Main results with confidence intervals
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- Limitations discussed
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**Reference:** https://www.strobe-statement.org/
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### PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses)
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**Purpose:** Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
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**Key Requirements:**
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- Protocol registration
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- Systematic search strategy across multiple databases
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- Inclusion/exclusion criteria
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- Study selection process
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- Data extraction methods
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- Quality assessment of included studies
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- Statistical methods for meta-analysis
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- Assessment of publication bias
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- Heterogeneity assessment
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- PRISMA flow diagram showing study selection
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- Summary of findings tables
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**Reference:** http://www.prisma-statement.org/
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### SPIRIT (Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials)
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**Purpose:** Clinical trial protocols
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**Key Requirements:**
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- Administrative information (title, registration, funding)
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- Introduction (rationale, objectives)
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- Methods (design, participants, interventions, outcomes, sample size)
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- Ethics and dissemination
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- Trial schedule and assessments
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**Reference:** https://www.spirit-statement.org/
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### CARE (CAse REport guidelines)
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**Purpose:** Case reports
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**Key Requirements:**
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- Patient information and demographics
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- Clinical findings
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- Timeline of events
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- Diagnostic assessment
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- Therapeutic interventions
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- Follow-up and outcomes
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- Patient perspective
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- Informed consent
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**Reference:** https://www.care-statement.org/
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## Animal Research
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### ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments)
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**Purpose:** Studies involving animal research
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**Key Requirements:**
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- Title indicates study involves animals
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- Abstract provides accurate summary
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- Background and objectives clearly stated
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- Ethical statement and approval
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- Housing and husbandry details
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- Animal details (species, strain, sex, age, weight)
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- Experimental procedures in detail
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- Experimental animals (number, allocation, welfare assessment)
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- Statistical methods appropriate
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- Exclusion criteria stated
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- Sample size determination
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- Randomization and blinding described
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- Outcome measures defined
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- Adverse events reported
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**Reference:** https://arriveguidelines.org/
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## Genomics and Molecular Biology
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### MIAME (Minimum Information About a Microarray Experiment)
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**Purpose:** Microarray experiments
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**Key Requirements:**
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- Experimental design clearly described
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- Array design information
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- Samples (origin, preparation, labeling)
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- Hybridization procedures and parameters
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- Image acquisition and quantification
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- Normalization and data transformation
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- Raw and processed data availability
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- Database accession numbers
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**Reference:** http://fged.org/projects/miame/
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### MINSEQE (Minimum Information about a high-throughput Nucleotide Sequencing Experiment)
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**Purpose:** High-throughput sequencing (RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, etc.)
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**Key Requirements:**
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- Experimental design and biological context
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- Sample information (source, preparation, QC)
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- Library preparation (protocol, adapters, size selection)
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- Sequencing platform and parameters
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- Data processing pipeline (alignment, quantification, normalization)
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- Quality control metrics
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- Raw data deposition (SRA, GEO, ENA)
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- Processed data and analysis code availability
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### MIGS/MIMS (Minimum Information about a Genome/Metagenome Sequence)
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**Purpose:** Genome and metagenome sequencing
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**Key Requirements:**
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- Sample origin and environmental context
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- Sequencing methods and coverage
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- Assembly methods and quality metrics
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- Annotation approach
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- Quality control and contamination screening
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- Data deposition in INSDC databases
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**Reference:** https://gensc.org/
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## Structural Biology
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### PDB (Protein Data Bank) Deposition Requirements
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**Purpose:** Macromolecular structure determination
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**Key Requirements:**
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- Atomic coordinates deposited
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- Structure factors for X-ray structures
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- Restraints and experimental data for NMR
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- EM maps and metadata for cryo-EM
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- Model quality validation metrics
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- Experimental conditions (crystallization, sample preparation)
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- Data collection parameters
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- Refinement statistics
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**Reference:** https://www.wwpdb.org/
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## Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry
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### MIAPE (Minimum Information About a Proteomics Experiment)
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**Purpose:** Proteomics experiments
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**Key Requirements:**
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- Sample processing and fractionation
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- Separation methods (2D gel, LC)
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- Mass spectrometry parameters (instrument, acquisition)
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- Database search and validation parameters
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- Peptide and protein identification criteria
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- Quantification methods
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- Statistical analysis
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- Data deposition (PRIDE, PeptideAtlas)
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**Reference:** http://www.psidev.info/
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## Neuroscience
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### COBIDAS (Committee on Best Practices in Data Analysis and Sharing)
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**Purpose:** MRI and fMRI studies
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**Key Requirements:**
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- Scanner and sequence parameters
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- Preprocessing pipeline details
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- Software versions and parameters
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- Statistical analysis approach
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- Multiple comparison correction
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- ROI definitions
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- Data sharing (raw data, analysis scripts)
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**Reference:** https://www.humanbrainmapping.org/cobidas
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## Flow Cytometry
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### MIFlowCyt (Minimum Information about a Flow Cytometry Experiment)
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**Purpose:** Flow cytometry experiments
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**Key Requirements:**
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- Experimental overview and purpose
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- Sample characteristics and preparation
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- Instrument information and settings
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- Reagents (antibodies, fluorophores, concentrations)
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- Compensation and controls
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- Gating strategy
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- Data analysis approach
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- Data availability
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**Reference:** http://flowcyt.org/
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## Ecology and Environmental Science
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### MIAPPE (Minimum Information About a Plant Phenotyping Experiment)
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**Purpose:** Plant phenotyping studies
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**Key Requirements:**
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- Investigation and study metadata
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- Biological material information
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- Environmental parameters
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- Experimental design and factors
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- Phenotypic measurements and methods
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- Data file descriptions
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**Reference:** https://www.miappe.org/
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## Chemistry and Chemical Biology
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### MIRIBEL (Minimum Information Reporting in Bio-Nano Experimental Literature)
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**Purpose:** Nanomaterial characterization
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**Key Requirements:**
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- Nanomaterial composition and structure
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- Size, shape, and morphology characterization
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- Surface chemistry and functionalization
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- Purity and stability
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- Experimental conditions
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- Characterization methods
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## Quality Assessment and Bias
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### CAMARADES (Collaborative Approach to Meta-Analysis and Review of Animal Data from Experimental Studies)
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**Purpose:** Quality assessment for animal studies in systematic reviews
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**Key Items:**
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- Publication in peer-reviewed journal
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- Statement of temperature control
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- Randomization to treatment
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- Blinded assessment of outcome
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- Avoidance of anesthetic with marked intrinsic properties
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- Use of appropriate animal model
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- Sample size calculation
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- Compliance with regulatory requirements
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- Statement of conflict of interest
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- Study pre-registration
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### SYRCLE's Risk of Bias Tool
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**Purpose:** Assessing risk of bias in animal intervention studies
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**Domains:**
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- Selection bias (sequence generation, baseline characteristics, allocation concealment)
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- Performance bias (random housing, blinding of personnel)
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- Detection bias (random outcome assessment, blinding of assessors)
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- Attrition bias (incomplete outcome data)
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- Reporting bias (selective outcome reporting)
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- Other sources of bias
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## General Principles Across Guidelines
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### Common Requirements
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1. **Transparency:** All methods, materials, and analyses fully described
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2. **Reproducibility:** Sufficient detail for independent replication
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3. **Data Availability:** Raw data and analysis code shared or deposited
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4. **Registration:** Studies pre-registered where applicable
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5. **Ethics:** Appropriate approvals and consent documented
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6. **Conflicts of Interest:** Disclosed for all authors
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7. **Statistical Rigor:** Methods appropriate and fully described
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8. **Completeness:** All outcomes reported, including negative results
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### Red Flags for Non-Compliance
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- Methods section lacks critical details
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- No mention of following reporting guidelines
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- Data availability statement missing or vague
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- No database accession numbers for omics data
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- No trial registration for clinical studies
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- Sample size not justified
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- Statistical methods inadequately described
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- Missing flow diagrams (CONSORT, PRISMA)
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- Selective reporting of outcomes
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## How to Use This Reference
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When reviewing a manuscript:
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1. Identify the study type and discipline
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2. Find the relevant reporting guideline(s)
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3. Check if authors mention following the guideline
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4. Verify that key requirements are addressed
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5. Note any missing elements in your review
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6. Suggest the appropriate guideline if not mentioned
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Many journals require authors to complete reporting checklists at submission. Reviewers should verify compliance even if a checklist was submitted.
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