Q: What are negative results in scientific research?

Answer:

Negative results are results that do not support the hypothesis and nullify the aim of the research. Negative results or null results as they are sometimes called, are also important and they contribute to our knowledge of the topic as much as positive results do. Researchers are often disappointed by negative results and there is a general bias against publishing negative results. However, the scientific community is realizing the value of negative results and some journals such as Journal of Negative Results in Biomedicine, PLOS ONE, and The All Results Journals encourage researchers to publish negative results.

Related reading:

• Why are negative results rarely published?
• SLIDE DECK: How publishing replication studies and negative results helps science
• Publication bias against negative results leads to author's distress: A case study
• Should I give up writing the manuscript if all of my results are negative?