The pervasive avoidance of prospective statistical power: major consequences and practical solutions

The estimation of the prospective statistical power (PSP) is mandatory when using a classical Neyman-Pearson statistical method that together with the one by Fisher, represents one of the pillars of the so-called frequentist statistical approach. it seems very clear that the use and hence the importance of PSP continue to be neglected in most empirical studies, independently from the Impact Factor of the journals with exceptions for some medical journals were it is explicitly required in the submission guidelines for Authors. The dramatic consequence of this underpowered situation in most of published studies is an overestimation of effect size and a low reproducibility of the scientific findings given the low probability of observing the same results.