@TechReport{iza:izadps:dp13233, author={Huntington-Klein, Nick and Arenas, Andreu and Beam, Emily A. and Bertoni, Marco and Bloem, Jeffrey R. and Burli, Pralhad and Chen, Naibin and Greico, Paul and Ekpe, Godwin and Pugatch, Todd and Saavedra, Martin and Stopnitzky, Yaniv}, title={The Influence of Hidden Researcher Decisions in Applied Microeconomics}, year={2020}, month={May}, institution={Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)}, address={Bonn}, type={IZA Discussion Paper}, number={13233}, url={https://www.iza.org/index.php/publications/dp13233}, abstract={Researchers make hundreds of decisions about data collection, preparation, and analysis in their research. We use a many-analysts approach to measure the extent and impact of these decisions. Two published causal empirical results are replicated by seven replicators each. We find large differences in data preparation and analysis decisions, many of which would not likely be reported in a publication. No two replicators reported the same sample size. Statistical significance varied across replications, and for one of the studies the effect's sign varied as well. The standard deviation of estimates across replications was 3-4 times the typical reported standard error.}, keywords={metascience;replication;research}, }