A new account of replication in the experimental life sciences

Guttinger, Stephan ORCID: 0000-0001-9448-973X (2019) A new account of replication in the experimental life sciences. Philosophy of Science, 86 (3). pp. 453-471. ISSN 0031-8248

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Abstract

The life sciences are said to be in the midst of a replication crisis because (1) a majority of published results are irreproducible, and (2) scientists rarely replicate existing data. Here I argue that point 2 of this assessment is flawed because there is a hitherto unidentified form of replication in the experimental life sciences, which I call ‘microreplications’ (MRs). Using a case study from biochemistry, I illustrate how MRs depend on a key element of experimentation, namely, experimental controls. I end by reflecting on what MRs mean for the broader debate about the replication crisis.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© 2019 Philosophy of Science Association
Divisions:	CPNSS
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General) B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General)
Date Deposited:	17 Jul 2019 14:48
Last Modified:	18 Oct 2024 05:24
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/101180

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