About the International Journal of Negative Results
Publishing rigorous science regardless of outcome - transforming "failed" experiments into foundational knowledge that accelerates discovery, prevents costly duplication, and challenges publication bias across all scientific disciplines.
We maintain rigorous standards while welcoming well-designed studies with negative, null, or inconclusive outcomes.
Our streamlined review process ensures rapid feedback without compromising quality.
Once accepted, articles are published quickly to ensure timely dissemination.
From submission to final publication, our average turnaround is just 60 days.
IJNR addresses a fundamental challenge in modern science: the systematic underrepresentation of negative results in published literature. This bias distorts our understanding of scientific phenomena, wastes resources through unknowing replication of failed experiments, and undermines evidence-based decision-making. Our mission is to restore balance to the scholarly record by providing an equal platform for publication regardless of expected outcomes.
We recognize that negative results can provide just as much useful information as positive ones - often more. A well-designed study with a negative outcome eliminates blind alleys, clarifies boundary conditions, and refines theoretical frameworks. By publishing these findings, IJNR helps researchers access high-quality research and avoid costly duplication across all scientific disciplines.
As a multidisciplinary journal, IJNR publishes negative results, failed replications, and inconclusive findings across the full spectrum of scientific research. Our editorial board comprises experts from physical sciences, life sciences, health sciences, engineering, computational sciences, and applied research domains. We actively encourage cross-disciplinary submissions that bridge methodological approaches.
- Precision Medicine
- Data Analytics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Applied Physics
- Material Science
- Biomedical Engineering
- Pharmacology
- Genetics
- Neuroscience
- Biomedicine
- Evolutionary Biology
- Structural Biology
- Chemistry
- Environmental Science
- Computer Science
- Mathematics
Beyond these representative areas, IJNR welcomes submissions from any scientific discipline where rigorous methodology has produced non-confirmatory or unexpected results. Explore our complete scope and thematic priorities on the Aims and Scope page.
IJNR publishes diverse formats to accommodate the varied ways negative results emerge in scientific practice. Each article type undergoes rigorous peer review focused on methodological soundness, reproducibility, and scholarly contribution.
Original Research Articles
Well-documented empirical studies with negative, null, or inconclusive results that meet methodological standards for publication.
Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
Comprehensive syntheses of existing evidence, including underreported negative findings, to inform future research directions.
Review Articles
Critical evaluations of research paradigms showing limited reproducibility or systematic gaps in reporting negative outcomes.
Methods & Protocols
Detailed descriptions of experimental procedures that failed to produce expected results, enabling refinement and adaptation.
Short Communications
Concise reports of negative results, pilot studies, or preliminary findings that inform ongoing research directions.
Randomized Controlled Trials
Null or negative outcome clinical or behavioral trials with rigorous design and transparent reporting.
Quasi-Experimental Studies
Non-randomized studies yielding unexpected or negative results with implications for theory or practice.
Qualitative Research
In-depth explorations revealing null effects, contradictory narratives, or failed interventions through non-quantitative methods.
Mixed-Methods Studies
Integrated approaches combining quantitative and qualitative data where overall findings are negative or inconclusive.
Case Reports & Case Series
Detailed documentation of unexpected clinical, experimental, or observational findings with potential scientific impact.
Null Hypothesis Studies
Studies specifically designed to test and confirm the null hypothesis with high statistical power and rigor.
Replication Studies
Attempts to reproduce existing studies—whether successful or unsuccessful—that contribute to understanding reproducibility challenges.
Policy & Practice Reports
Analysis of real-world interventions or policies that failed to achieve intended outcomes, offering lessons for improvement.
Data Notes
Descriptions of datasets generated from studies with negative or null results, promoting reuse and secondary analysis.
Perspectives & Commentaries
Expert insights on methodological issues, publication bias, and the role of negative results in advancing science.
Opinion Pieces
Scholarly discussions on systemic challenges in research and publishing, advocating for cultural change.
Letters to the Editor
Critical commentary, methodological debates, or alternative interpretations of previously published negative findings.
IJNR is supported by a distinguished editorial board composed of leading experts from multiple scientific disciplines and geographic regions. Our editors ensure that content meets the highest standards of research quality, scientific accuracy, and methodological rigor - independent of outcome.
Every submission undergoes single-blind peer review by specialists in the relevant field. Reviewers evaluate experimental design, data quality, statistical methods, reporting completeness, and reproducibility. We explicitly instruct reviewers to focus on methodological soundness rather than outcome novelty or hypothesis confirmation. The average time to first decision is 21 days, ensuring timely feedback while maintaining rigorous evaluation.
Authors submitting to IJNR should carefully review our Instructions for Authors before preparing manuscripts. The guidelines provide detailed specifications on article formatting, ethical requirements, data sharing expectations, and reporting standards.
Manuscript Requirements
- Title: Descriptive, specific, and accurately reflecting negative/null findings
- Author Information: Complete author list with affiliations, ORCID identifiers, and corresponding author contact
- Abstract: Structured summary including background, methods, results (negative/null), and implications
- Introduction: Research context, hypothesis/objectives, and rationale for study design
- Methods: Comprehensive methodology enabling replication assessment
- Results: Complete reporting of data including effect sizes, confidence intervals, and statistical power
- Discussion: Interpretation of negative findings, methodological considerations, and implications for future research
- Conclusions: Clear summary of what the negative results contribute to scientific understanding
- References: Complete citation list formatted per journal standards
- Data Availability: Statement on data accessibility or justification for restrictions
Submissions must be made via the online submission system. Authors receive acknowledgment within 72 hours and regular updates throughout the review process. The average time from submission to publication is 60 days, with accepted manuscripts published within 10 days of acceptance. Upon acceptance, authors must provide conflict of interest disclosures and approve final proofs before publication.
IJNR publishes all content under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license, ensuring maximum accessibility and reusability. Authors retain copyright while granting unlimited rights for others to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, link, and build upon published work with proper attribution.
The journal charges an Article Processing Charge (APC) upon acceptance to cover editorial operations, peer review management, production, hosting, and long-term preservation. Waivers or discounts are available for authors from low-income countries and in cases of demonstrated financial hardship. Contact the editorial office at info@openaccesspub.org to discuss eligibility.
IJNR serves a worldwide community of researchers committed to transparent, comprehensive scientific reporting. Our authors and reviewers represent leading universities, research institutes, and laboratories across continents, united by the belief that all rigorous science deserves publication consideration.
- Daniel Benharroch - Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
- V.I. Petukhov - Vladimir State University
- E.V. Dmitriev - Russian Academy of Sciences
- L.Kh. Baumane - Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis
- A.V. Skalny - ANO Centre for Biotic Medicine
- Maryam Sotoudeh Anvari - Tehran University of Medical Sciences
- Behrang Taghvaei - Semnan University of Medical Sciences
- Mohammad Vasei - Tehran University of Medical Sciences
- Hee-Chun Chung - Seoul National University
- Van-Giap Nguyen - Vietnam National University
- Bong-Kyun Park - Seoul National University
"You are providing a very fast return during the examination of the articles. I think that researchers would prefer this situation. You're also giving positive criticism to the manuscript in writing, and you're facilitating the work of researchers. Especially for young researchers to share their work with you will be appropriate for their scientific development. I wish you success."
"We were truly pleased to publish our article in 'International Journal of Negative Results'. The entire process, from submission to publication, was very smooth and fast, while the editorial staff was extremely helpful, professional and efficient. This exciting journal will undoubtedly become one of the key journals in the field and we would be more than happy to publish in this journal in the future."
Publish Your Negative Results with Confidence
Join researchers worldwide who are transforming "failed" experiments into foundational knowledge. Submit your rigorous negative findings to IJNR and contribute to a more complete, transparent scientific record.
