Methodological Malpractice

Methodological malpractice refers to the use of flawed, inappropriate, or irresponsible research methods in a way that compromises the validity, reliability, or ethical integrity of a study.

It goes beyond minor mistakes — it implies serious negligence or willful disregard for proper scientific standards.

🔍 In Context: Examples of methodological malpractice include:

Using statistical models (e.g., PSM or DiD) without checking their assumptions.

Ignoring confounding variables.

Selectively reporting results (cherry-picking).

Failing to conduct robustness checks or sensitivity analyses.

Drawing causal conclusions from observational data without justification.

Misrepresenting the limitations of the study or overstating the implications.

💬 Used in a sentence: “The authors’ failure to validate model assumptions, report confidence intervals, or control for key confounders amounts to methodological malpractice in health economics.”