Abstract:
The ability to reproduce an effect — whether through natural observation or a carefully controlled experiment — is generally viewed by scientists as a prerequisite for declaring the effect’s existence. Replication research focuses on the extent to which previously observed effects can be reproduced. This type of research ranges in scope from identical reproduction of reported results using the exact same methods, equipment, conditions, or data to more nuanced explorations of the ways an effect is altered by the use of different methods (sensitivity analyses) or is conditional upon the presence of specific circumstances (generalizability). Though replication research has often failed to proceed smoothly in psychology for several important reasons, the availability of many new resources for replication research bodes well for a more promising future than the recent past.
