Replication

Replication is the purposeful repetition of previous research to confirm or disconfirm the previous results. Replications also comprise the research used to compose meta-analyses. However, it is important to note that meta-analyses are not the same as replications. Replication is necessary for meta-analysis, but meta-analyses can be based on studies with quite varied purposes. For example, a meta-analysis on the effects of academic acceleration could rely on studies investigating grade skipping and early entrance into kindergarten even though the individual studies would not be considered replications of each other. Thus, studies may come from the same meta-analytic pool but may not serve the same purpose. Meta-analyses synthesize previous research, whereas replications seek to verify whether previous research findings are reproducible and, therefore, accurate. This entry ...