Course Description
This workshop focuses on the evaluation and practical design of preregistrations for empirical research. Preregistration is widely used to improve the transparency and interpretability of confirmatory analyses, yet in practice its effectiveness depends strongly on a concept called producibility: the extent to which sufficient information is provided for you (or somebody else) to produce the study in a way that meaningfully constrains researcher degrees of freedom.
The workshop starts by revisiting core principles underlying preregistration, with particular attention focused on the latest meta-research. The focus lies on common weaknesses observed in real preregistrations, including underspecified hypotheses and ambiguous decision rules. Common misconceptions and limitations of preregistration are also discussed, with attention to when preregistration is (and is not) appropriate.
A substantial portion of the workshop is devoted to hands-on activities. Participants learn how to read, evaluate, and critique preregistrations. Through guided exercises, students identify ambiguous specifications and potential sources of remaining flexibility, from both an author and a reviewer perspective. In the practical sessions, participants work on drafting their own preregistrations using a structured template. Participants are encouraged to work with a study from their own research where possible. For those who do not yet have a suitable project, other studies are provided, allowing everyone to engage fully in the exercises. Participants receive feedback through peer discussion and instructor guidance, with emphasis on translating research questions into producible plans.
By the end of the workshop, participants will have a concrete understanding of how to design, evaluate, and write preregistrations, as well as practical experience applying these principles to real research scenarios.
Prerequisites
An OSF account
Optional: a study that you want to preregister or a preregistration that you want to improve.
Reading Materials
Optional reading:
Lakens, D. (2019). The value of preregistration for psychological science: A conceptual analysis. Japanese Psychological Review, 62(3), 221-230. https://doi.org/10.24602/sjpr.62.3_221
Capacity
This course has a maximum capacity of 35 participants.
Time and Location
This workshop will be held on-site only at Eindhoven University of Technology on February 19, 2026. Details will be provided to all attendees over email after registration for the workshop.
Workshops start from 9:30 to 16:30 with a lunch break from 12:30 to 13:30. Lunch will not be provided but can be purchased at the university canteen or the on-campus supermarket.
Registration
To register for this workshop, please complete the following form by February 13. Note that your registration will be considered finalized only after receiving a confirmation email. The registration link will remain open after this date if spots are still available.
Instructor
Dr. Olmo van den Akker
Olmo van den Akker is a researcher at Tilburg University. He completed his post-doc fellow at QUEST Center for Responsible Research. His research interests includes efficacy of preregistration, interpretation of statistical results, and peer review process.