Replication Research Series-Paper 1 : A concept analysis and meta-narrative review established a comprehensive theoretical definition of replication research to improve its use

Brigitte Vachon; Janet A Curran; Sathya Karunananthan; Jamie Brehaut; Ian D Graham; David Moher; Anne E Sales; Sharon E Straus; Michele Fiander; P Alison Paprica; Jeremy M Grimshaw

doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2020.07.006

Replication Research Series-Paper 1 : A concept analysis and meta-narrative review established a comprehensive theoretical definition of replication research to improve its use

J Clin Epidemiol. 2021 Jan:129:176-187. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2020.07.006. Epub 2020 Jul 16.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medicine, Occupational Therapy Program, School of Rehabilitation, Université de Montréal, 7077 Avenue du Parc, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3C 3J7. Electronic address: brigitte.vachon@umontreal.ca.
² School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, 5869 University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, B3H 4R2.
³ Centre for Practice-Changing Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Box 711, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1H 8L6.
⁴ Centre for Practice-Changing Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Box 711, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1H 8L6; Department of Learning Health Sciences, Clinical Epidemiology Program, University of Ottawa, 600 Peter Morand Crescent, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1G 5Z3.
⁵ Department of Learning Health Sciences, Clinical Epidemiology Program, University of Ottawa, 600 Peter Morand Crescent, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1G 5Z3.
⁶ Medical School, University of Michigan, 209 Victor Vaughan Building, 1111 E. Catherine St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2054; Department of Geriatric Medicine, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, M5S 1A8, Ontario, Canada.
⁷ Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation University of Toronto Health Sciences Building, 155 College Street, Suite 425, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5T 3M6.

PMID: 32682961
DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2020.07.006

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study is to clarify the concept of replication research to improve its appropriate use by researchers, editors, research funders, and decision makers.

Study design and setting: We combined concept analysis and metanarrative review methods to synthetize knowledge on replication research from various scientific fields. We used multiple search strategies to identify the relevant literature published before April 2018. We summarized the data by seeking commonalities and differences in underlying conceptual and theoretical assumptions in the literature.

Results: A total of 153 articles from various disciplines were included. The analysis led to the identification of three major definitions of replication: the repetition of a previous study, the extension of a previous study, and the road-testing of a theory. Attributes, conditions required to conduct replication studies, concerns related to the interpretation of replication studies, and diverse replication research typologies were synthesized, combined, and analyzed. Based on this metanarrative review, a comprehensive theoretical definition of replication research was formulated.

Conclusion: This study can support the adoption of a shared understanding and recognition of the indispensable nature of replication research for the sound development of knowledge in all research fields.

Keywords: Concept analysis; Metanarrative review; Reliability; Replication; Reproducibility; Validity.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Evaluation Studies as Topic*
Humans
Proof of Concept Study*
Research Design* / standards
Research Design* / trends
Systems Analysis

Grants and funding

KST-108047/CIHR/Canada