p-curve

P-curve is a tool for determining if reported effects in literature are true or if they merely reflect selective reporting. P-curve is the distribution of statistically significant p-values for a set of studies (ps < .05). Because only true effects are expected to generate right-skewed p-curves ā€“ containing more low (.01s) than high (.04s) significant p-values ā€“ only right-skewed p-curves are diagnostic of evidential value. By telling us whether we can rule out selective reporting as the sole explanation for a set of findings, p-curve offers a solution to the age-old inferential problems caused by file-drawers of failed studies and analyses.