2023/08/04 by Felix Chopra, Ingar Haaland, Christopher Roth +1 · 1 voice · 33 citations
Decision Sciences · Economics, Econometrics and Finance · Mathematics · #Computer science #Economics #Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life #Mathematical economics #Mathematics #Meta-analysis and systematic reviews #Null (SQL) #Statistical Methods in Clinical Trials
paper · open access · doi:10.1093/ej/uead060
published in The Economic Journal 134(657), 193-219 (Oxford University Press)
openalex publication_date 2023/08/04 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Abstract We examine how the evaluation of research studies in economics depends on whether a study yielded a null result. Studies with null results are perceived to be less publishable, of lower quality, less important and less precisely estimated than studies with large and statistically significant results, even when holding constant all other study features, including the sample size and the precision of the estimates. The null result penalty is of similar magnitude among PhD students and journal editors. The penalty is larger when experts predict a large effect and when statistical uncertainty is communicated with p-values rather than standard errors. Our findings highlight the value of a pre-result review.