RCM protocols: improving reproducibility in the field of mass spectrometry

The ability to repeatability and reproducibly replicate the outcomes of experiments is central to the scientific method. The corroboration of results by fellow scientists, either in another laboratory or within one's own, is what drives science forward and turns data into understanding. However, many scientists believe that there is a “reproducibility crisis.”1-6 In one article, over 1500 scientists across a range of fields were surveyed, and 90% considered their field to be experiencing a reproducibility crisis (52% saying a significant crisis and 38% a slight crisis).1 These figures are incredibly worrying and have deep impacts; irreproducibility introduces waste (time, financial and environmental) as researchers fail to replicate published results, decisions (such as policy) are made on erroneous facts, the advance of scientific fields is delayed, and the reputation of science and scientists is harmed. While not the sole cause, poor reproducibility will have undoubtedly led to the increase in retracted papers seen in recent years.