Aims & Scope

International Journal of Negative Results (IJNR) publishes rigorously documented non-confirmatory, null, unexpected, and negative findings across all scientific disciplines, challenging publication bias and advancing transparent science through the systematic reporting of results that refute hypotheses, fail to replicate prior work, or reveal limitations in established methodologies.

Null Results Failed Replications Non-Confirmatory Findings Negative Data Publication Bias

We do NOT consider: Positive confirmatory results, purely theoretical speculation without empirical testing, opinion pieces without data, or studies lacking methodological rigor and transparency.

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Core Research Domains

Biomedical & Life Sciences

Failed clinical trials and therapeutic interventions
Non-significant drug efficacy studies
Unsuccessful molecular biology experiments
Negative genetic association studies
Failed biomarker validation studies
Unsuccessful cellular and animal model experiments

Typical fit: A well-designed Phase II clinical trial showing no significant difference between treatment and placebo groups, with complete methodology and statistical analysis demonstrating adequate power.

Physical & Chemical Sciences

Failed chemical synthesis attempts
Non-reactive compound studies
Unsuccessful materials development
Failed catalysis experiments
Negative results in analytical method development
Unsuccessful physics experiments testing established theories

Typical fit: A systematic investigation of a novel synthetic route that failed to produce the target compound despite optimization, with detailed characterization of unexpected products and mechanistic insights.

Computational & Data Sciences

Failed algorithm implementations
Non-reproducible computational models
Negative machine learning results
Unsuccessful AI/deep learning applications
Failed data mining and pattern recognition
Computational methods showing poor performance

Typical fit: A machine learning model that failed to outperform baseline methods across multiple datasets, with comprehensive benchmarking, hyperparameter tuning documentation, and analysis of failure modes.

Environmental & Earth Sciences

Non-reproducible field studies
Failed environmental intervention studies
Negative ecological correlation studies
Unsuccessful climate model predictions
Failed geological exploration results
Non-significant environmental impact assessments

Typical fit: A multi-year field study that failed to detect predicted climate change effects on ecosystem dynamics, with rigorous sampling design and statistical power analysis.

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Secondary Focus Areas

Replication Studies

Direct and conceptual replications that fail to reproduce previously published positive findings, including multi-lab collaborative replication efforts and systematic replication projects across different experimental systems.

Methodological Limitations

Studies documenting limitations, biases, or failures in established research methodologies, analytical techniques, measurement instruments, or experimental protocols that yield negative or inconsistent results.

Meta-Analyses of Negative Results

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses synthesizing negative findings across multiple studies, identifying patterns in null results, and quantifying publication bias in specific research domains.

Hypothesis-Challenging Research

Well-designed studies that test and fail to confirm established scientific hypotheses, theories, or widely accepted assumptions, providing evidence for alternative explanations or theoretical refinements.

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Emerging Research Areas

Interdisciplinary Negative Findings

Cross-disciplinary studies yielding negative results at the intersection of multiple fields, including failed translational research, unsuccessful interdisciplinary methodological applications, and negative findings from convergence science initiatives. Note: May require additional editorial review for scope alignment.

Emerging Technology Failures

Negative results from novel technological applications, including failed implementations of quantum computing algorithms, unsuccessful blockchain applications in science, negative findings from emerging biotechnologies, and unsuccessful applications of novel sensor technologies. Note: Must demonstrate scientific rigor beyond technical troubleshooting.

Explicitly Out of Scope

Positive Confirmatory Results Studies that confirm hypotheses or replicate positive findings successfully. These belong in traditional discipline-specific journals.

Methodologically Flawed Studies Research with inadequate experimental design, insufficient sample sizes, poor controls, or lack of statistical power that cannot distinguish true negative results from methodological failures.

Purely Theoretical or Opinion Pieces Speculative discussions, commentaries, or theoretical arguments without empirical data, experimental testing, or systematic analysis of negative findings.

Incomplete or Preliminary Data Studies lacking sufficient detail for replication, incomplete datasets, or preliminary findings without adequate follow-up analysis or validation attempts.

Non-Scientific Negative Impacts Social commentary on negative impacts of technology, policy critiques, or societal issue discussions without rigorous empirical research methodology and data analysis.

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Article Types & Editorial Priorities

Priority 1

Fast-Track Review

Original Research Articles Replication Studies Systematic Reviews Meta-Analyses Methodological Studies

Priority 2

Standard Review

Short Communications Data Notes Technical Notes Negative Results Reports

Selective

Rarely Considered (Must Demonstrate Exceptional Scientific Value)

Case Reports Perspectives Commentaries

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Editorial Standards & Requirements

Reporting Guidelines

CONSORT for clinical trials
STROBE for observational studies
PRISMA for systematic reviews
ARRIVE for animal research
STARD for diagnostic accuracy
Discipline-specific guidelines as applicable

Data & Transparency

Raw data deposition in public repositories
Complete statistical analysis code
Detailed methodology for replication
Power analysis and sample size justification
Preregistration encouraged (not mandatory)

Ethical Requirements

IRB/Ethics committee approval for human subjects
IACUC approval for animal research
Informed consent documentation
Conflict of interest disclosure
Funding source transparency

Preprint & Prior Publication

Preprints welcomed and encouraged
Conference abstracts acceptable
No prior peer-reviewed publication
Thesis chapters acceptable with disclosure
Must not be under review elsewhere

Editorial Decision Metrics

21 days Median Time to First Decision

57% Acceptance Rate

45 days Average Time to Publication

Variable Article Processing Charge

Ready to Submit Your Negative Results?

IJNR provides a rigorous peer-review platform for scientifically sound negative findings that advance knowledge through transparency. Your null results matter to science.

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International Journal of Negative Results

International Journal of Negative Results – Aim And Scope