(No mention of ME/CFS specifically)
http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...gistered-reports-countering-publication-bias/
So one is likely generally talking about observational data cf. randomised controlled trials.
There has been a move towards registering protocols for certain types of scientific work in medicine e.g. randomised controlled trials and more recently meta-analyses/systematic reviews. However such practices are much less common with the rest of science incl. medical/biomedical research that isn't testing an intervention.
Registered Reports: a new publishing initiative aimed at countering publication bias
A publishing initiative launched earlier this year by the journal Cortex re-establishes the crucial importance of the scientific method. By asking scientists to register their proposed study, it ensures that papers are not judged depending on whether the results support or reject the hypothesis. George Lozano welcomes this initiative and hopes this publishing format will spread to other journals and other fields.
http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...gistered-reports-countering-publication-bias/
Cortex
A Journal devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior
CORTEXis an international journal devoted to the study of cognition and of the relationship between the nervous system and mental processes,particularly as these are reflected in the behaviour of patients...
So one is likely generally talking about observational data cf. randomised controlled trials.
There has been a move towards registering protocols for certain types of scientific work in medicine e.g. randomised controlled trials and more recently meta-analyses/systematic reviews. However such practices are much less common with the rest of science incl. medical/biomedical research that isn't testing an intervention.