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Achieving Statistical Significance with Control Variables and Without Transparency

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  • Lenz, Gabriel S.
  • Sahn, Alexander

Abstract

How often do articles depend on suppression effects for their findings? How often do they disclose this fact? By suppression effects, we mean control-variable-induced increases in estimated effect sizes. Researchers generally scrutinize suppression effects as they want reassurance that authors have a strong explanation for them, especially when the statistical significance of the key finding depends on them. In a reanalysis of observational studies from a leading journal, we find that over 30% of articles depend on suppression effects for statistical significance. Although increases in key effect estimates from including control variables are of course potentially justifiable, none of the articles justify or disclose them. These findings may point to a hole in the review process: journals are accepting articles that depend on suppression effects without readers, reviewers, or editors being made aware.

Suggested Citation

  • Lenz, Gabriel S. & Sahn, Alexander, 2021. "Achieving Statistical Significance with Control Variables and Without Transparency," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 29(3), pages 356-369, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:polals:v:29:y:2021:i:3:p:356-369_5
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    Cited by:

    1. Yu Wang & Randall W. Stone, 2023. "China visits: a dataset of Chinese leaders’ foreign visits," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 201-225, January.
    2. Gillian Warner-Søderholm & Simonas Čepėnas & Inga Minelgaite & Vita Akstinaitė, 2024. "Sustainability-Oriented Leader, Please! Effects of Industry on Followers’ Preferences," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-26, March.
    3. Sun, Guibo & Du, Yao, 2023. "New metro and subjective wellbeing among older people: A natural experiment in Hong Kong," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    4. Lang, Megan & Qiu, Wenfeng, 2021. "Cherry Picking," MetaArXiv as9zd, Center for Open Science.
    5. Luca Bellodi & Massimo Morelli & Antonio Nicolò & Paolo Roberti, 2023. "The Shift to Commitment Politics and Populism:Theory and Evidence," BAFFI CAREFIN Working Papers 23204, BAFFI CAREFIN, Centre for Applied Research on International Markets Banking Finance and Regulation, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy.
    6. Kravtsova, Maria & Libman, Alexander, 2023. "Historical family structure as a predictor of liberal voting: Evidence from a century of Russian history," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 47(2).

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