> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.myresearchlab.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Preregistration

> Timestamp your plan before you collect data.

**Preregistration** freezes a version of your study and records your hypotheses and design on the [OSF](/integrations/osf) *before* data collection — so the analysis you planned is distinguishable from what you found later.

## What happens when you preregister

1. Your working **Draft** is frozen into an immutable **preregistered version** (numbered, citable).
2. That version is pushed to the OSF with your hypotheses, design, and materials, producing a timestamped registration + link.
3. The study becomes **runnable** — you can open recruitment.

## Before you preregister

Run through the **preflight checklist** on the study:

* All required blocks configured and validated.
* Conditions/variants behave as intended (check in **Preview**).
* If the study uses AI, note the [non-determinism disclosure](/integrations/anthropic) that's added automatically.

## Preregister vs publish

* **Preregister** — the open-science path: freezes *and* timestamps on OSF.
* **Publish** — freezes a runnable version *without* an OSF push (good for pilots/exploratory work).

Both make the study runnable; only preregistration creates the public, timestamped plan.

## Amendments

Need to change a registered plan? Push a labelled **amendment** (see [OSF](/integrations/osf)) rather than quietly editing — the lineage stays honest.