Why Replication Is Important

Every bit of evidence one can acquire, in any area, leads one that much closer to what is true.

—Carl Rogers

Here’s why replication is important.

We know what is true based on evidence. The more evidence for some belief, the more confident in that belief you ought to be.

This is where replication comes in. If you have one study that says something, this is not all that much evidence that this something is true. After all, parapsychology keeps churning out results, and we all know that is bullshit.

But, if a study has been replicated, this is at least twice as much evidence that something is true. The more replications, the more evidence, the more likely something is true.

Given that most published findings are false, I no longer pay too much attention to a study before it’s been replicated and, when I do find out something surprising, you better believe I’m searching Google Scholar for replications.