A ‘Limitations’ section should be mandatory in all scientific papers
Sumpter, John P.; Runnalls, Tamsin J.; Johnson, Andrew C. 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1570-3764; Barcelo, Damia.
2023
A ‘Limitations’ section should be mandatory in all scientific papers.
Science of the Total Environment, 857 (2), 159395.
4, pp.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159395
Abstract/Summary
It is unusual, and can be difficult, for scientists to reflect in their publications on any limitations their research had. This is a consequence of the extreme pressure that scientists are under to ‘publish or perish’. The inevitable consequence is that much published research is not as good as it could, and should, be, leading to the current ‘reproducibility crisis’. Approaches to address this crisis are required. Our suggestion is to include a ‘Limitations’ section in all scientific papers. Evidence is provided showing that such a section must be mandatory. Adding a ‘Limitations’ section to scientific papers would greatly increase honesty, openness and transparency, to the considerable benefit of both the scientific community and society in general. This suggestion is applicable to all scientific disciplines. Finally, we apologise if our suggestion has already been made by others.
| Item Type: | Publication - Article |
|---|---|
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI): | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159395 |
| UKCEH and CEH Sections/Science Areas: | Pollution (Science Area 2017-) |
| ISSN: | 0048-9697 |
| Additional Keywords: | reproducibility crisis, quality of research, limitations, openness, transparency |
| Date made live: | 30 Dec 2022 12:53 +0 (UTC) |
| URI: | https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/533776 |
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