Chunk #8 — Bias in a protocol for a meta-analysis of 5-HTTLPR, stress, and depression — Issue 1: “Primary Analysis Plan 2” to study lifetime depression does not allow for establishing temporal order between stress and depression
but has a larger N) will be those most likely to be highlighted by the authors, covered in the media, and remembered by the public. Plan 2’s result will be rendered more salient to readers because of its anticipated sample size exceeding 30,000 participants. This appears to be the rationale for retaining this plan, despite the fact that its design was shown to be flawed by Caspi et al. [2]).
