Toward a more transparent, rigorous, and generative psychology.

Abstract

Psychological Bulletin has long enjoyed a reputation as a source for what research has revealed about psychological phenomena; it maintains a prestigious position of leadership in psychological science and for science at large; it publishes evidence syntheses that are the most comprehensive and rigorous reviews available; it informs theorists and practitioners. I am duly honored to be selected as its editor; accordingly, my goal is to guard this tradition and, to the greatest extent possible, improve the rigor and transparency of submissions. Incorporating advances in evidence synthesis methods will help ensure that the Bulletin retains its esteemed position. Thus, I encourage the strongest possible scholarly evidence syntheses addressing central psychological issues. It is important to use contemporary methods for evidence synthesis because evidence syntheses are a form of metascience, using science to understand trends in science. Stronger methods have the potential to reduce error and the play of chance, making conclusions more trustworthy. Importantly, therefore, carefully conducted evidence syntheses offer the hope of transforming particular domains of research. Accordingly, this editorial will focus on some strategies that deserve, in my opinion, greater use. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).