2025-2026 Webcast Lecture Series

Abstract

“A discipline that does not encourage replication and instead values the novel and the interesting invites ambitious academics to publish interesting one-off findings without any concern about scrutiny” (Pillutla and Thau, 2013: 192). In other words, replications keep a field healthy. They are also a powerful way for scholars to sharpen their skills, refine their ideas, and overall make stronger contributions. But what do we mean by replication? Why conduct different types of replication studies? How do you design, conduct, write, and publish them? In this webinar, we will first clarify the differences among reproducibility, replication, and generalizability studies, and discuss the role each can play in cumulative social science. Although some large-scale replications are known for exposing fragile findings, most replication studies in management duly aim to extend, strengthen, and refine existing knowledge. That is, they are constructive replications that aim to add methodological value and identify conceptual boundaries. Next, we will discuss a framework for thinking about the questions specific to replication research from both the author’s and the editor’s perspective: which study to replicate, how to structure the analysis, what to emphasize in the writing, and what is different about the review and revision process. Finally, we will touch on new methodological and institutional developments that make it possible to compare studies, assess generalizability and transportability, collaborate at scale and get replications published, so that replication can advance both your own research agenda and the field as a whole.