Protocol for development of a checklist and guideline for transparent reporting of cluster analyses (TRoCA)
Introduction Cluster analysis, a machine learning-based and data-driven technique for identifying groups in data, has demonstrated its potential in a wide range of contexts. However, critical appraisal and reproducibility are often limited by insufficient reporting, ultimately hampering the interpre...
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BMJ Publishing Group
2025-08-01
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| Series: | BMJ Open |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/8/e099609.full |
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| author | Ana Marusic Bright I Nwaru Syed Ahmar Shah Meredith Wallace Dat Tran Daniil Lisik Rani Basna Tai Dinh Ryan P Browne Jeffrey L Andrews Absalom Ezugwu Joaquín Torres-Sospedra Hieu-Chi Dam Philippe Fournier-Viger Christian Hennig Marieke Timmerman Matthijs J Warrens Eva Ceulemans Tina M Hernandez-Boussard |
| author_facet | Ana Marusic Bright I Nwaru Syed Ahmar Shah Meredith Wallace Dat Tran Daniil Lisik Rani Basna Tai Dinh Ryan P Browne Jeffrey L Andrews Absalom Ezugwu Joaquín Torres-Sospedra Hieu-Chi Dam Philippe Fournier-Viger Christian Hennig Marieke Timmerman Matthijs J Warrens Eva Ceulemans Tina M Hernandez-Boussard |
| author_sort | Ana Marusic |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction Cluster analysis, a machine learning-based and data-driven technique for identifying groups in data, has demonstrated its potential in a wide range of contexts. However, critical appraisal and reproducibility are often limited by insufficient reporting, ultimately hampering the interpretation and trust of key stakeholders. The present paper describes the protocol that will guide the development of a reporting guideline and checklist for studies incorporating cluster analyses—Transparent Reporting of Cluster Analyses.Methods and analysis Following the recommended steps for developing reporting guidelines outlined by the Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research Network, the work will be divided into six stages. Stage 1: literature review to guide development of initial checklist. Stage 2: drafting of the initial checklist. Stage 3: internal revision of checklist. Stage 4: Delphi study in a global sample of researchers from varying fields (n=≈) to derive consensus regarding items in the checklist and piloting of the checklist. Stage 5: consensus meeting to consolidate checklist. Stage 6: production of statement paper and explanation and elaboration paper. Stage 7: dissemination via journals, conferences, social media and a dedicated web platform.Ethics and dissemination Due to local regulations, the planned study is exempt from the requirement of ethical review. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications. The checklist with explanations will also be made available freely on a dedicated web platform (troca-statement.org) and in a repository. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ba9191ae9e624fab9212decaead70e53 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2044-6055 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-ba9191ae9e624fab9212decaead70e532025-08-22T04:20:13ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552025-08-0115810.1136/bmjopen-2025-099609Protocol for development of a checklist and guideline for transparent reporting of cluster analyses (TRoCA)Ana Marusic0Bright I Nwaru1Syed Ahmar Shah2Meredith Wallace3Dat Tran4Daniil Lisik5Rani Basna6Tai Dinh7Ryan P Browne8Jeffrey L Andrews9Absalom Ezugwu10Joaquín Torres-Sospedra11Hieu-Chi Dam12Philippe Fournier-Viger13Christian Hennig14Marieke Timmerman15Matthijs J Warrens16Eva Ceulemans17Tina M Hernandez-Boussard18Department of Research in Biomedicine and Health, University of Split School of Medicine, Split, CroatiaKrefting Research Centre, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, SwedenThe University of Edinburgh Usher Institute, Edinburgh, UKDepartment of Psychiatry, Statistics and Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USAUniversity of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, AustraliaDepartment of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Section of Sustainable Health, The OLIN Unit, Umeå Universitet, Umeå, SwedenKrefting Research Centre, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg Sahlgrenska Academy, Gothenburg, SwedenThe Kyoto College of Graduate Studies for Informatics, Kyoto, JapanDepartment of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, CanadaDepartment of Statistics, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaUnit for Data Science and Computing, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South AfricaDepartment of Computer Science, Universitat de València, Valencia, SpainJapan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Nomi, JapanBig Data Institute, Shenzhen University College of Computer Science and Software Engineering, Shenzhen, Guangdong, ChinaDepartment of Statistical Sciences ‘Paolo Fortunati’, University of Bologna, Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Psychometrics and Statistics, University of Groningen, Groningen, NetherlandsGION Education/Research, Department of Pedagogical and Educational Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, The NetherlandsQuantitative Psychology and Individual Differences, KU Leuven, Leuven, BelgiumDepartment of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USAIntroduction Cluster analysis, a machine learning-based and data-driven technique for identifying groups in data, has demonstrated its potential in a wide range of contexts. However, critical appraisal and reproducibility are often limited by insufficient reporting, ultimately hampering the interpretation and trust of key stakeholders. The present paper describes the protocol that will guide the development of a reporting guideline and checklist for studies incorporating cluster analyses—Transparent Reporting of Cluster Analyses.Methods and analysis Following the recommended steps for developing reporting guidelines outlined by the Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research Network, the work will be divided into six stages. Stage 1: literature review to guide development of initial checklist. Stage 2: drafting of the initial checklist. Stage 3: internal revision of checklist. Stage 4: Delphi study in a global sample of researchers from varying fields (n=≈) to derive consensus regarding items in the checklist and piloting of the checklist. Stage 5: consensus meeting to consolidate checklist. Stage 6: production of statement paper and explanation and elaboration paper. Stage 7: dissemination via journals, conferences, social media and a dedicated web platform.Ethics and dissemination Due to local regulations, the planned study is exempt from the requirement of ethical review. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications. The checklist with explanations will also be made available freely on a dedicated web platform (troca-statement.org) and in a repository.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/8/e099609.full |
| spellingShingle | Ana Marusic Bright I Nwaru Syed Ahmar Shah Meredith Wallace Dat Tran Daniil Lisik Rani Basna Tai Dinh Ryan P Browne Jeffrey L Andrews Absalom Ezugwu Joaquín Torres-Sospedra Hieu-Chi Dam Philippe Fournier-Viger Christian Hennig Marieke Timmerman Matthijs J Warrens Eva Ceulemans Tina M Hernandez-Boussard Protocol for development of a checklist and guideline for transparent reporting of cluster analyses (TRoCA) BMJ Open |
| title | Protocol for development of a checklist and guideline for transparent reporting of cluster analyses (TRoCA) |
| title_full | Protocol for development of a checklist and guideline for transparent reporting of cluster analyses (TRoCA) |
| title_fullStr | Protocol for development of a checklist and guideline for transparent reporting of cluster analyses (TRoCA) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Protocol for development of a checklist and guideline for transparent reporting of cluster analyses (TRoCA) |
| title_short | Protocol for development of a checklist and guideline for transparent reporting of cluster analyses (TRoCA) |
| title_sort | protocol for development of a checklist and guideline for transparent reporting of cluster analyses troca |
| url | https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/8/e099609.full |
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