Client-side tool for cryptographic research protocol preregistration (SHA-256)

[u/Adept_Flow591]

Preregistering research protocols and hypotheses is essential for open science and preventing p-hacking, but centralized registries often require public disclosure before data collection is finished.

To solve this, I built Research-protocol-prereg (https://research-protocol-prereg.vercel.app), a 100% client-side cryptographic preregistration tool.

How it works:

1. Enter your study protocol, hypotheses, and analysis plan locally in your browser.

2. The browser generates a unique SHA-256 cryptographic hash digest of your exact protocol text.

   1. Export a timestamped, tamper-proof JSON certificate and PDF record.
   2. Later, you can publicly prove your analysis plan was locked prior to data collection without revealing your unreleased protocol text prematurely. Everything runs entirely in local browser memory—zero data is sent to external servers or databases. Live App: Link

Feedback from open science researchers and methodologists is appreciated!