From: Dan Reiter and Adam Berinsky, Editors-in-Chief
We recently clarified our policy regarding the execution of pre-analysis plans and the reporting of supplemental materials. These changes are in line with our general goal of increasing transparency in the reporting of research in AJPS.
On May 8, 2026, AJPS posted new policy language, as follows:
“Manuscripts must describe their research designs and results consistently and accurately, across the manuscript text, supplemental information, and pre-analysis plans. If there are differences between portions of these materials, such as the manuscript testing a hypothesis that is not pre-registered, those differences should be clearly noted in the main text (or footnotes to the main text), to ensure transparency for readers.”
Note that current AJPS policy does not require pre-analysis plans; that policy remains unchanged. Current AJPS policy does not require strict adherence to pre-analysis plans; that also remains unchanged. The goal of the clarified policy language is to improve transparency for readers.
We note that improving transparency also assists manuscript authors themselves. We have observed that reviewers sometime become suspicious when they uncover discrepancies from posted pre-analysis plans or other discrepancies in the supplemental materials that are not clearly flagged in the text. Improved transparency helps avoid this kind of reviewer reaction.
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