PSYC2040 WEEK 12

THE REPLICATION CRISIS

• High profile cases of scientific misconduct 

• Further investigation revealed results of many studies difficult to replicate/reproduce 

• Reproducibility is a key part of the scientific method 

WHY DID THE REPLICATION CRISIS OCCUR?

• 'publish or perish' culture 

• Psychology journals prioritised novel, counterintuitive research findings 

• Only positive findings published 

RESPONDING TO REPLICATION CRISIS

• Top social psychology papers rarely accept single-study papers 

• Top social psychology journals now encourage preregistration of hypothesis, methods and analyses 

• Top social psychology journals now encourage data and materials to be openly shared/accessible 

• It is becoming more acceptable for journals to publish 'replication studies' 

• Multi-lab replications increasingly common 

ESTABLISHED EFFECTS CAN BE QUALIFIED 

• Just because an effect does not replicate when tested again, this does not mean it is not real 

• Even established effects may not emerge every single time 

• Effects naturally vary due to  

  • Individual differences 

  • Contextual differences 

  • Cultural differences 

GENERALISABILITY

• Research disproportionately conducted on W.E.I.R.D samples 

  • Western, educated, industrialised, rich, democratic 

  • Up to 80% of participants in published literature 

  • Around 12% of world's population 

• Lack of inclusivity and comprehensiveness even within WEIRD societies 

• White, majority, WEIRD, people are considered the default/norm 

• Most researchers are predominately WEIRD too 

  • Assumed to be most capable of neutrality and objectivity