Scientific Reporting Standards and Guidelines

Scientific Reporting Standards and Guidelines

This document catalogs major reporting standards and guidelines across scientific disciplines. When reviewing manuscripts, verify that authors have followed the appropriate guidelines for their study type and discipline.

Clinical Trials and Medical Research

CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials)

Purpose: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) Key Requirements:

• Trial design, participants, and interventions clearly described
• Primary and secondary outcomes specified
• Sample size calculation and statistical methods
• Participant flow through trial (enrollment, allocation, follow-up, analysis)
• Baseline characteristics of participants
• Numbers analyzed in each group
• Outcomes and estimation with confidence intervals
• Adverse events
• Trial registration number and protocol access

Reference: http://www.consort-statement.org/

STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology)

Purpose: Observational studies (cohort, case-control, cross-sectional) Key Requirements:

• Study design clearly stated
• Setting, eligibility criteria, and participant sources
• Variables clearly defined
• Data sources and measurement methods
• Bias assessment
• Sample size justification
• Statistical methods including handling of missing data
• Participant flow and characteristics
• Main results with confidence intervals
• Limitations discussed

Reference: https://www.strobe-statement.org/

PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses)

Purpose: Systematic reviews and meta-analyses Key Requirements:

• Protocol registration
• Systematic search strategy across multiple databases
• Inclusion/exclusion criteria
• Study selection process
• Data extraction methods
• Quality assessment of included studies
• Statistical methods for meta-analysis
• Assessment of publication bias
• Heterogeneity assessment
• PRISMA flow diagram showing study selection
• Summary of findings tables

Reference: http://www.prisma-statement.org/

SPIRIT (Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials)

Purpose: Clinical trial protocols Key Requirements:

• Administrative information (title, registration, funding)
• Introduction (rationale, objectives)
• Methods (design, participants, interventions, outcomes, sample size)
• Ethics and dissemination
• Trial schedule and assessments

Reference: https://www.spirit-statement.org/

CARE (CAse REport guidelines)

Purpose: Case reports Key Requirements:

• Patient information and demographics
• Clinical findings
• Timeline of events
• Diagnostic assessment
• Therapeutic interventions
• Follow-up and outcomes
• Patient perspective
• Informed consent

Reference: https://www.care-statement.org/

Animal Research

ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments)

Purpose: Studies involving animal research Key Requirements:

• Title indicates study involves animals
• Abstract provides accurate summary
• Background and objectives clearly stated
• Ethical statement and approval
• Housing and husbandry details
• Animal details (species, strain, sex, age, weight)
• Experimental procedures in detail
• Experimental animals (number, allocation, welfare assessment)
• Statistical methods appropriate
• Exclusion criteria stated
• Sample size determination
• Randomization and blinding described
• Outcome measures defined
• Adverse events reported

Reference: https://arriveguidelines.org/

Genomics and Molecular Biology

MIAME (Minimum Information About a Microarray Experiment)

Purpose: Microarray experiments Key Requirements:

• Experimental design clearly described
• Array design information
• Samples (origin, preparation, labeling)
• Hybridization procedures and parameters
• Image acquisition and quantification
• Normalization and data transformation
• Raw and processed data availability
• Database accession numbers

Reference: http://fged.org/projects/miame/

MINSEQE (Minimum Information about a high-throughput Nucleotide Sequencing Experiment)

Purpose: High-throughput sequencing (RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, etc.) Key Requirements:

• Experimental design and biological context
• Sample information (source, preparation, QC)
• Library preparation (protocol, adapters, size selection)
• Sequencing platform and parameters
• Data processing pipeline (alignment, quantification, normalization)
• Quality control metrics
• Raw data deposition (SRA, GEO, ENA)
• Processed data and analysis code availability

MIGS/MIMS (Minimum Information about a Genome/Metagenome Sequence)

Purpose: Genome and metagenome sequencing Key Requirements:

• Sample origin and environmental context
• Sequencing methods and coverage
• Assembly methods and quality metrics
• Annotation approach
• Quality control and contamination screening
• Data deposition in INSDC databases

Reference: https://gensc.org/

Structural Biology

PDB (Protein Data Bank) Deposition Requirements

Purpose: Macromolecular structure determination Key Requirements:

• Atomic coordinates deposited
• Structure factors for X-ray structures
• Restraints and experimental data for NMR
• EM maps and metadata for cryo-EM
• Model quality validation metrics
• Experimental conditions (crystallization, sample preparation)
• Data collection parameters
• Refinement statistics

Reference: https://www.wwpdb.org/

Proteomics and Mass Spectrometry

MIAPE (Minimum Information About a Proteomics Experiment)

Purpose: Proteomics experiments Key Requirements:

• Sample processing and fractionation
• Separation methods (2D gel, LC)
• Mass spectrometry parameters (instrument, acquisition)
• Database search and validation parameters
• Peptide and protein identification criteria
• Quantification methods
• Statistical analysis
• Data deposition (PRIDE, PeptideAtlas)

Reference: http://www.psidev.info/

Neuroscience

COBIDAS (Committee on Best Practices in Data Analysis and Sharing)

Purpose: MRI and fMRI studies Key Requirements:

• Scanner and sequence parameters
• Preprocessing pipeline details
• Software versions and parameters
• Statistical analysis approach
• Multiple comparison correction
• ROI definitions
• Data sharing (raw data, analysis scripts)

Reference: https://www.humanbrainmapping.org/cobidas

Flow Cytometry

MIFlowCyt (Minimum Information about a Flow Cytometry Experiment)

Purpose: Flow cytometry experiments Key Requirements:

• Experimental overview and purpose
• Sample characteristics and preparation
• Instrument information and settings
• Reagents (antibodies, fluorophores, concentrations)
• Compensation and controls
• Gating strategy
• Data analysis approach
• Data availability

Reference: http://flowcyt.org/

Ecology and Environmental Science

MIAPPE (Minimum Information About a Plant Phenotyping Experiment)

Purpose: Plant phenotyping studies Key Requirements:

• Investigation and study metadata
• Biological material information
• Environmental parameters
• Experimental design and factors
• Phenotypic measurements and methods
• Data file descriptions

Reference: https://www.miappe.org/

Chemistry and Chemical Biology

MIRIBEL (Minimum Information Reporting in Bio-Nano Experimental Literature)

Purpose: Nanomaterial characterization Key Requirements:

• Nanomaterial composition and structure
• Size, shape, and morphology characterization
• Surface chemistry and functionalization
• Purity and stability
• Experimental conditions
• Characterization methods

Quality Assessment and Bias

CAMARADES (Collaborative Approach to Meta-Analysis and Review of Animal Data from Experimental Studies)

Purpose: Quality assessment for animal studies in systematic reviews Key Items:

• Publication in peer-reviewed journal
• Statement of temperature control
• Randomization to treatment
• Blinded assessment of outcome
• Avoidance of anesthetic with marked intrinsic properties
• Use of appropriate animal model
• Sample size calculation
• Compliance with regulatory requirements
• Statement of conflict of interest
• Study pre-registration

SYRCLE's Risk of Bias Tool

Purpose: Assessing risk of bias in animal intervention studies Domains:

• Selection bias (sequence generation, baseline characteristics, allocation concealment)
• Performance bias (random housing, blinding of personnel)
• Detection bias (random outcome assessment, blinding of assessors)
• Attrition bias (incomplete outcome data)
• Reporting bias (selective outcome reporting)
• Other sources of bias

General Principles Across Guidelines

Common Requirements

1. Transparency: All methods, materials, and analyses fully described
2. Reproducibility: Sufficient detail for independent replication
3. Data Availability: Raw data and analysis code shared or deposited
4. Registration: Studies pre-registered where applicable
5. Ethics: Appropriate approvals and consent documented
6. Conflicts of Interest: Disclosed for all authors
7. Statistical Rigor: Methods appropriate and fully described
8. Completeness: All outcomes reported, including negative results

Red Flags for Non-Compliance

• Methods section lacks critical details
• No mention of following reporting guidelines
• Data availability statement missing or vague
• No database accession numbers for omics data
• No trial registration for clinical studies
• Sample size not justified
• Statistical methods inadequately described
• Missing flow diagrams (CONSORT, PRISMA)
• Selective reporting of outcomes

How to Use This Reference

When reviewing a manuscript:

1. Identify the study type and discipline
2. Find the relevant reporting guideline(s)
3. Check if authors mention following the guideline
4. Verify that key requirements are addressed
5. Note any missing elements in your review
6. Suggest the appropriate guideline if not mentioned

Many journals require authors to complete reporting checklists at submission. Reviewers should verify compliance even if a checklist was submitted.