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The possibility and desirability of replication in the humanities

Author

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  • Rik Peels

    (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

  • Lex Bouter

    (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
    Amsterdam University Medical Centers)

Abstract

In this article, we argue that the debate on the poor reproducibility of scientific research has overlooked an entire field: replication is also possible and desirable in the humanities. So far, the debate on replicability has been carried out primarily in the biomedical, natural and social sciences. It turns out that, for a wide variety of reasons, many of which lead to selective reporting, a large proportion of studies in these fields are not replicable, sometimes as many as 70 percent. In this paper, we leave these fields mostly aside, since they have been extensively addressed in the recent literature, and turn to the humanities. First, we distinguish between replicability and replication. Subsequently, we defend the view that replication is entirely possible in the humanities: it meets all the criteria that have been identified for biomedical, natural and social science research. The uniqueness of many research objects in the humanities does not present an obstacle to this. We also explain why replication is desirable and urgently needed in the humanities. Finally, we give various practical guidelines for how replication in the humanities could be carried out, such as focusing on the replication of cornerstone studies or a random selection of published research in a sub-discipline, and opting, if possible, for a conceptual replication, so that triangulation becomes possible.

Suggested Citation

  • Rik Peels & Lex Bouter, 2018. "The possibility and desirability of replication in the humanities," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 4(1), pages 1-4, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:4:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-018-0149-x
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-018-0149-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marcus R. Munafò & George Davey Smith, 2018. "Robust research needs many lines of evidence," Nature, Nature, vol. 553(7689), pages 399-401, January.
    2. Nosek, Brian A. & Ebersole, Charles R. & DeHaven, Alexander Carl & Mellor, David Thomas, 2018. "The Preregistration Revolution," OSF Preprints 2dxu5, Center for Open Science.
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    Cited by:

    1. Quan-Hoang Vuong & Manh-Tung Ho & Hong-Kong T. Nguyen & Thu-Trang Vuong & Trung Tran & Khanh-Linh Hoang & Thi-Hanh Vu & Phuong-Hanh Hoang & Minh-Hoang Nguyen & Manh-Toan Ho & Viet-Phuong La, 2020. "On how religions could accidentally incite lies and violence: folktales as a cultural transmitter," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 6(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Bart Penders & J. Britt Holbrook & Sarah de Rijcke, 2019. "Rinse and Repeat: Understanding the Value of Replication across Different Ways of Knowing," Publications, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-15, July.
    3. Naoyuki Hayashi & Kazuhiro Kezuka, 2020. "The influence of occupation on the longevity of Japanese traditional artists," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 6(1), pages 1-6, December.
    4. Rosie Hastings & Krishma Labib & Iris Lechner & Lex Bouter & Guy Widdershoven & Natalie Evans, 2023. "Guidance on research integrity provided by pan-European discipline-specific learned societies: A scoping review," Science and Public Policy, Oxford University Press, vol. 50(2), pages 318-335.

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