[From the article “Reproducibility of Scientific Results”, by Fiona Fidler and John Wilcox, published in The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy]

“This review consists of four distinct parts. First, we look at the term “reproducibility” and related terms like “repeatability” and “replication”, presenting some definitions and conceptual discussion about the epistemic function of different types of replication studies. Second, we describe the meta-science research that has established and characterised the reproducibility crisis, including large scale replication projects and surveys of questionable research practices in various scientific communities. Third, we look at attempts to address epistemological questions about the limitations of replication, and what value it holds for scientific inquiry and the accumulation of knowledge. The fourth and final part describes some of the many initiatives the open science reform movement has proposed (and in many cases implemented) to improve reproducibility in science.”

An outline of the article is given below:

Replicating, Repeating, and Reproducing Scientific Results

1.1 An Account from the Social Sciences

1.2 An Interdisciplinary Account

1.3 A Philosophical Account

Meta-Science: Establishing, Monitoring, and Evaluating the Reproducibility Crisis

2.1 Reproducibility Projects

2.2 Publication Bias, Low Statistical Power and Inflated False Positive Rates

2.3 Questionable Research Practices

2.4 Over-Reliance on Null Hypothesis Significance Testing

2.5 Scientific Fraud

Epistemological Issues Related to Replication

3.1 The Experimenters’ Regress

3.2 Replication as a Distinguishing Feature of Science

3.3 Formalising the Logic of Replication

Open Science Reforms: Values, Tone, and Scientific Norms

4.1 Methods and Training

4.2 Reporting and Dissemination

4.3 Peer Review

4.4 Incentives and Evaluations

4.5 Values, Tone, and Scientific Norms in Open Science Reform

Conclusion

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