Addressing Fear of Scooping on OSF Preregistrations

Fear of Scooping: What is Scooping?

"Scooping" refers to the worry that someone else might steal your research idea and publish it before you. This concern is particularly acute when you’re thinking about registration or preregistration. Registering your study means calling out your project idea before you start collecting data, which might make you feel vulnerable to having that idea taken and used by someone else.

Why Embargo Your Preregistration on the OSF?

To address these concerns, the OSF offers an embargo option. Embargoing your registration means that you can hide the details of your study from public view for a certain period. This essentially makes your registration private for a period of time. This way, you can share your research plan with the community and benefit from the transparency and credibility that preregistration offers, without the fear of your idea being scooped.

When Can You Embargo a Preregistration?

You can choose to embargo your registration at the time of submission. This allows you to work on your project knowing that your research plan is safely recorded and timestamped but not publicly accessible. You can also end your embargo early at anytime!

What Does an Embargo Look Like to the Outside World?

To outside viewers who do not have permission to access your embargoed registration, it will appear as a "page not found" notification. It’s as if your registration doesn’t exist, maintaining the confidentiality of your project until you’re ready to share it.

How Long Can an Embargo Last?

An embargo on the OSF can last for up to four years from the first submission. This gives you ample time to complete your research and publish your findings without worrying about your idea being prematurely disclosed.

In Summary

The fear of scooping is a valid concern, but with the OSF's embargo option, you can protect your research ideas while still enjoying the benefits of preregistration. By choosing to embargo your registration, you are given ample time to complete your study, while being given credit for your original submission date. This gives you credit for transparency calling out your study plan while keeping privacy for your new ideas. If you have more questions see our document on the benefits and potential concerns of preregistations.