Glossary / Lexicon

Deutsch: Replizieren / Español: Replicar / Português: Reproduzir / Français: Répliquer / Italian: Replicare

Replicate in the psychology context refers to the process of conducting a study or experiment again to verify the results of the original research. Replication is essential for establishing the reliability and validity of research findings, ensuring that they are not the result of chance, bias, or specific conditions unique to the initial study.

Description

Replicate in psychology involves repeating a study or experiment to determine whether the same results can be consistently obtained. This process is crucial for confirming the robustness and generalizability of research findings. There are different types of replication:

1. Direct Replication: Repeating the original study as closely as possible, with the same methods, procedures, and variables.
2. Conceptual Replication: Testing the same hypothesis as the original study but using different methods, measures, or populations.
3. Systematic Replication: Varying certain elements of the original study, such as the sample size or setting, to test the boundaries and applicability of the findings.

Replication helps identify whether the results of a study are dependable and applicable across different contexts and conditions.

Application Areas

Replicate is applicable in various fields within psychology, including:

1. Experimental Psychology: Conducting replication studies to verify the outcomes of controlled experiments.
2. Clinical Psychology: Replicating therapeutic intervention studies to ensure their efficacy across different patient groups and settings.
3. Developmental Psychology: Repeating studies on developmental milestones to confirm findings across diverse populations and age groups.
4. Social Psychology: Testing the consistency of social behavior and attitudes by replicating experiments in different cultural and social contexts.
5. Cognitive Psychology: Validating findings related to cognitive processes such as memory, perception, and decision-making through replication.

Well-Known Examples

Examples of replicate in psychology include:

1. The Stanford Prison Experiment: Although ethically controversial and rarely directly replicated, similar studies have been conducted to explore authority and group dynamics.
2. Milgram's Obedience Studies: Various replications of Milgram's original experiments have been conducted to test the limits of obedience to authority.
3. The Marshmallow Test: Replications of the original delay of gratification study have been performed to examine its validity and the influence of socio-economic factors.
4. The Replication Crisis: The recent focus on replication in psychology has led to numerous studies being re-examined, revealing that some findings fail to replicate, prompting discussions about research practices and reliability.

Treatment and Risks

Replication in psychology has several benefits and potential challenges:

1. Benefits:

   • Increased Reliability: Confirming that findings are consistent and not due to random variation or specific conditions.
   • Improved Validity: Ensuring that the results are applicable across different contexts and populations.
   • Scientific Integrity: Promoting transparency and rigor in psychological research.

2. Challenges:

   • Resource Intensive: Replication studies can require significant time, funding, and effort.
   • Publication Bias: Journals may prefer novel findings over replication studies, making it harder to publish replication work.
   • Complexity: Some studies are difficult to replicate exactly due to unique contexts, participant variables, or ethical considerations.

Similar Terms

• Reproducibility: The ability to achieve the same results using the same data and methods as the original study.
• Generalizability: The extent to which findings from a study can be applied to broader populations or different contexts.
• Reliability: The consistency of a measure or finding across different occasions and conditions.

Weblinks

• environment-database.eu: 'Replicate' in the glossary of the environment-database.eu

Summary

Replicate in the psychology context involves repeating a study or experiment to confirm the original findings' reliability and validity. Replication is crucial for ensuring that research results are robust and applicable across different contexts. It can be direct, conceptual, or systematic, each serving to verify and extend the understanding of psychological phenomena. Despite challenges such as resource demands and publication biases, replication remains a cornerstone of scientific integrity and progress in psychology.

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