# Preregistering secondary data: prior access and analysis decisions

Decision workbook and teaching example · 2026-10-06

The completed case is fictional. Its values and decisions are not actual findings; complete your project using relevant permissions, methods and requirements.

- Project: ____________________
- Researcher and role: ____________________
- Date and version: ____________________
- Data seen before the decision: ____________________
- Aim and scope: ____________________

## Completed example

| Stage/decision | Example | Check or action |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Release | Hypothetical survey wave 2, v2 | Identify the actual release. |
| Knowledge | Dictionary and recruitment count only | Disclose all inspection and communicated findings. |
| Target | study_hours and score association | Define constructs, units and timing. |
| Amendment | Missing code clarified before analysis | Record date, reason and known outcomes. |
| Report | Principal and sensitivity work separated | Supply code and deviation table. |

## Complete your own record

| Topic | Actual decision and reason | Evidence link and status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Release | __________ | __________ |
| Knowledge | __________ | __________ |
| Target | __________ | __________ |
| Amendment | __________ | __________ |
| Report | __________ | __________ |

## Completion checks

- [ ] Complete prior-access record.
- [ ] Explicit sample, variable and model rules.
- [ ] Dated registration, amendments and rerunnable code.

## Changes and limitations

| Date | Change | Data known at decision time | Reason | Consequence for claim | Reviewer |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| __________ | __________ | __________ | __________ | __________ | __________ |

## Sources and further reading

- [OSF Support — Registration templates](https://help.osf.io/article/330-welcome-to-registrations)
- [Center for Open Science — Preregistration](https://www.cos.io/initiatives/prereg)
- [MIT Libraries — Write a data management plan](https://libraries.mit.edu/data-management/plan/write/)

Related guide: https://didgar-research-site1.vercel.app/en/guides/secondary-data-preregistration/