Community for
Better science
starts here.
Reliable research can be complicated to create. So we're making a network of essential resources to help you better understand the principles and practices of scientific rigor.
Why trust us? Because we’re a team of students, post-grads, professors, and professionals who know what it’s like to be right where you are.
Why trust us? Because we’re a team of students, post-grads, professors, and professionals who know what it’s like to be right where you are.
Answers you want + skills you need = C4R Units
Our themed units are designed to educate and empower researchers across a range of scientific disciplines. Get answers to specific questions and develop the practical skills you need to generate more reliable research.
Check out our first unit, Confirmation Bias, and come back for more soon!
Check out our first unit, Confirmation Bias, and come back for more soon!
Confirmation Bias
This unit will explore rigor issues as a cause of unreliable research, and guide you in identifying and seeking out solutions to isolated rigor issues that you may encounter in lab, as well as collective rigor issues that require scientists to work together to solve.
Prof. Konrad
PhD Researcher, UPENN
PhD Researcher, UPENN
COURSE CHAPTERS
The Extent of the Problem
This unit will explore rigor issues as a cause of unreliable research, and guide you in identifying and seeking out solutions to isolated rigor issues that you may encounter in lab, as well as collective rigor issues that require scientists to work together to solve.
3
Activities
20
minutes
Motive & Method
This unit will explore rigor issues as a cause of unreliable research, and guide you in identifying and seeking out solutions to isolated rigor issues that you may encounter in lab, as well as collective rigor issues that require scientists to work together to solve.
3
Activities
20
minutes
Solbing Rigor Problems
This unit will explore rigor issues as a cause of unreliable research, and guide you in identifying and seeking out solutions to isolated rigor issues that you may encounter in lab, as well as collective rigor issues that require scientists to work together to solve.
3
Activities
20
minutes
The Toolbox
This unit will explore rigor issues as a cause of unreliable research, and guide you in identifying and seeking out solutions to isolated rigor issues that you may encounter in lab, as well as collective rigor issues that require scientists to work together to solve.
3
Activities
20
minutes
Power in Numbers
This unit will explore rigor issues as a cause of unreliable research, and guide you in identifying and seeking out solutions to isolated rigor issues that you may encounter in lab, as well as collective rigor issues that require scientists to work together to solve.
3
Activities
20
minutes
This content can be edited from Units CMS
This unit will explore rigor issues as a cause of unreliable research, and guide you in identifying and seeking out solutions to isolated rigor issues that you may encounter in lab, as well as collective rigor issues that require scientists to work together to solve.
COURSE CHAPTERS
start unitReserach Questions
This unit will explore rigor issues as a cause of unreliable research, and guide you in identifying and seeking out solutions to isolated rigor issues that you may encounter in lab, as well as collective rigor issues that require scientists to work together to solve.
Prof. Konrad
PhD Researcher, UPENN
PhD Researcher, UPENN
COURSE CHAPTERS
The Extent of the Problem
This unit will explore rigor issues as a cause of unreliable research, and guide you in identifying and seeking out solutions to isolated rigor issues that you may encounter in lab, as well as collective rigor issues that require scientists to work together to solve.
3
Activities
20
minutes
Motive & Method
This unit will explore rigor issues as a cause of unreliable research, and guide you in identifying and seeking out solutions to isolated rigor issues that you may encounter in lab, as well as collective rigor issues that require scientists to work together to solve.
3
Activities
20
minutes
Solbing Rigor Problems
This unit will explore rigor issues as a cause of unreliable research, and guide you in identifying and seeking out solutions to isolated rigor issues that you may encounter in lab, as well as collective rigor issues that require scientists to work together to solve.
3
Activities
20
minutes
The Toolbox
This unit will explore rigor issues as a cause of unreliable research, and guide you in identifying and seeking out solutions to isolated rigor issues that you may encounter in lab, as well as collective rigor issues that require scientists to work together to solve.
3
Activities
20
minutes
Power in Numbers
This unit will explore rigor issues as a cause of unreliable research, and guide you in identifying and seeking out solutions to isolated rigor issues that you may encounter in lab, as well as collective rigor issues that require scientists to work together to solve.
3
Activities
20
minutes
The Road to Rigor
This unit will explore rigor issues as a cause of unreliable research, and guide you in identifying and seeking out solutions to isolated rigor issues that you may encounter in lab, as well as collective rigor issues that require scientists to work together to solve.
Prof. Konrad
PhD Researcher, UPENN
PhD Researcher, UPENN
COURSE CHAPTERS
1. The Extent of the Problem
2. Motive & Method
3. Solbing Rigor Problems
4. The Toolbox
6. Power in Numbers
The Extent of the Problem
This unit will explore rigor issues as a cause of unreliable research, and guide you in identifying and seeking out solutions to isolated rigor issues that you may encounter in lab, as well as collective rigor issues that require scientists to work together to solve.
3
Activities
20
minutes
Confirmation Bias
COMING SOON
Confirmation Bias
The original error.
1-hour interactive presentation. 3 scaffolding lessons teach how cognitive bias influences research. Participants learn about how masking can work to address bias and some issues that arise when attempting to mask an experiment. Spice up a lab meeting, teach a class, run a skill-building session for your team.
3-hour interactive presentation. 8 scaffolding lessons teach how confirmation bias affects every step of the research process. Participants learn strategies for addressing bias in hypothesis formation, experimental design, and data analysis. Teach one week of class, or run an intensive workshop.
Asynchronous, online reference resource. 8 chapters teach how confirmation bias affects every step of the research process. Readers learn strategies for addressing bias in hypothesis formation, experimental design, and data analysis. Learn solo, assign it as coursework, or use it as a reference.
Controls
COMING SOON
Controls
Clarity, not coincidence!
1-hour interactive presentation. 3 lessons engagingly introduce the importance of control, challenge learners to grapple with the many meanings of "control" and support planning for fundamental types of negative control groups. Spice up a lab meeting, teach a class, run a skill-building session for your team.
3-hour interactive presentation. 8 lessons include and continue the Meeting version to address the benefits and challenges of additional types of control groups and the unique influence of expectations. Participants then synthesize their knowledge and explore ways to optimize investment in control and embrace transparency in reporting limitations. Teach one week of class, or run an intensive workshop.
Asynchronous, online reference resource. 8 chapters with built-in activities expand upon content in the Class version to support learners in exploring, reflecting, and planning experimental controls. Learn solo, assign it as coursework, or use it as a reference.
Randomization
COMING SOON
Randomization
Randomize to know it is real.
1-hour interactive presentation. 3 lessons teach why we randomize, common randomization mistakes, and choosing appropriate randomization methods. Participants learn why randomization is essential for causal inference, how to identify flawed randomization procedures, and how to select suitable randomization approaches for their research. Spice up a lab meeting, teach a class, or run a skill-building session for your team.
3-hour interactive presentation. 8 lessons teach about the theory and practice of randomized allocation and randomization in your lab; how to design randomized studies that account for important covariates or environmental variables; implement simple, block, and stratified randomization; and transparently report randomization methods. Teach one week of class, or run an intensive workshop.
Asynchronous, online reference resource. 8 chapters teach the theory and practice of randomized allocation and randomization in your lab. Readers learn to recognize common randomization myths and mistakes, implement simple, block, and stratified randomization techniques, and account for important variables in experimental design. Learn solo, assign it as coursework, or use it as a reference.
The Mission of C4R
Driving Cultural Change for Reliable and Reproducible Research
Building a Culture of Rigor
C4R is dedicated to changing research culture by providing comprehensive educational materials, promoting best practices, and fostering a community committed to improving research reliability.
Addressing Rigor Issues in Research
Rigor issues can arise at any stage of the research process, leading to unreliable and irreproducible results that undermine scientific progress and public trust.
Study on your own,
or learn with your whole lab
Good news: Whether you’re working in a group or moving at your own pace, our units are designed to support most learning styles and settings, including alternative expressions by divergent learners.
The hands-on experience you've been waiting to get your hands on
Our interactive Units teach the necessary skills that fall through the cracks.
Read MoreBite-sized content that meets your needs
Learn what you need to know, practice with interactive activities, and save our materials for future reference.
Read MoreBuild your own curriculum for rigor
Our pre-made presentations work for lab meetings, classes, and individual learning.
Read MoreA community of people dedicated to rigor
We host online and in-person events to provide hands-on support in doing more rigorous work.
Read MoreChallenge accepted:
inspire more reliable science
through accessible learning.
We’re here to shake up the status quo with curious, collaborative scientists everywhere.
We’ve got big ideas and we’re not afraid to share them.
Discover new educational units, thoughtful op-eds, and conference recaps from our team and other leaders in scientific rigor.
Join these universities and create a C4R network personalized to your students, staff, and school.
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