Since the inconsistency does not directly relate to the main research questions, Dr. Porter ignores the ...
While Dr. Porter feels pressured to submit the article, he feels that it is important to be open about the violation of research protocol.
These are some possible outcomes:
The explanation of the error and justification for discounting its overall impact seems reasonable to reviewers.
While the reviewers appreciate the inclusion of the explanation of the data collection error, they express reservations about the justification for discounting its overall impact.
While the reviewers appreciate the inclusion of the explanation of the data collection error, they express significant reservations about the justification for discounting its overall impact.