Self-serving “tweaks” hurt science The Credibility Crisis in Science Thomas Plümper and Eric Neumayer MIT Press, 2026. 308 pp.

Key Points

• The aim is to explore how innocent-looking research decisions can negatively impact the credibility of science.
• Analyzed various research practices and decisions in social science
• Evaluated the effects of biases and manipulations in research
• Critically assessed the implications for scientific integrity
• Minor tweaks in research can lead to significant credibility issues
• Specific decisions may introduce biases affecting outcomes
• Calls for more transparency and ethical standards in research practices