EQIPD principles

Our objective

(for the QS, our expectations, recommendation and processes) To be perceived as lean, flexible, fit-for-purpose, and user-friendly.

Challenge

Descriptors above are just bold statements not communicating anything about “what it is all about”. This is the question that we would like to be able to answer in a maximally concise and understandable manner.

Solution

Identify and agree on a small (5) set of key principles that are easy to understand and that summarize the essence of our QS and our work. This is not to replace the Core Requirements. Core requirements are operational implementations of these key principles. Once formulated, these key principles can be presented in the white paper, in the Toolbox, on the website, included in the presentations, serve as a basis for a short commentary / paper, or just as talking point when someone is asking us “what it is all about”. Last but not least, these principles will be instrumental for us to decide which practice is EQIPD compliant and which not. To illustrate that, we will provide examples (case studies) for each principle.

Key principles

Principle	Explanation	Example
Engage with autonomy	Decisions about specific needs and solutions are made by researchers, and not by EQIPD. EQIPD has formulated core requirements for the QS implementation and, as a partner in this process, EQIPD asks critical questions and provides recommendations that are voluntary to follow and are provided only to help the researchers throughout the implementation and use.	EQIPD recommends applying randomization to all studies but it is up to the researcher to decide whether randomization is applying to a particular study or a particular study design
Grow through reflection [1]	What it means to have the right quality level in place is suggested by your environment (collaborators, funders, institution, etc.). EQIPD does not “invent” needs or requirements of your funders or your collaborators. As a partner in this process, EQIPD QS only allows you to see these requirements better and suggests ways of implementing them.	EQIPD identifies overlapping requirements from different stakeholders towards the use and reporting of randomization.
Focus on goal[2]	Focus on the outcome (performance standards), not on the path, timelines or the tools to get there.	EQIPD highlights the importance of “randomness” (lack of pattern or predictability) in the correctly developed randomization sequence but leaves it up to the user to select a specific method or tool.
Be transparent	Key research processes must be transparent. This principle applies specifically to retention and accessibility of information related to key decisions related to study design, conduct or analysis (e.g., decisions to include or exclude certain data points in the analysis).	If you decide not to apply randomization, the decision must be stated and must be justified, recorded and reported.
Leave a trace	Key research processes must be traceable. Complementary to the principle above, this principle refers to retention and accessibility of all information that is necessary for a complete reconstruction of a key research process (e.g., Raw data related to reported data are findable, and reported data are reconstructable from raw data).	If you do apply randomization, the way you apply randomization must be traceable and reported	-