Replication Vocab
Close Replication
A form of direct replication that sticks very closely to the original study design but may involve minor permissible changes due to uncontrollable factors (e.g., different times or samples). Goal: Reproduce the original study while accounting for some minor unavoidable differences (like using a different sample due to time or location). Key Feature: Almost identical to direct replication but acknowledges that exact duplication is impossible due to certain uncontrollable factors.
Simulation
a research technique where a real-world event or environment is recreated in a controlled setting to study how participants respond to certain stimuli. This can range from simple text-based scenarios to advanced virtual reality setups, allowing researchers to observe behaviors and outcomes without needing to conduct the study in a natural setting.
Ecological Validity
extent to which the findings from a research study can be generalized to real-life settings. It reflects how similar the research environment and conditions are to the natural environment where the behavior would typically occur. The more a study mirrors real-world contexts, the higher its ecological validity, allowing for more accurate application of the results to everyday situations. Memorization Tip: Think "Ecological = real-world" to remember it's about how well the study's results apply to real-life situations.
Experimental Vignette
A short, written scenario or description used in research to simulate a real-life situation. Participants read the vignette and provide responses as though they were in the situation, allowing researchers to analyze decision-making or behavior. It addresses the dilemma of conducting experimental research that results in high levels of confidence regarding internal validity but is challenged by threats to external validity versus conducting nonexperimental research that usually maximizes external validity but whose conclusions regarding causal relationships are ambiguous.
Taking into account our study of the ethics of the Stanford Prison Experiment as well as the ethics recommendations from the readings, prepare a briefing on the ethical issues and research study implications particularly important to non-field research.
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Constructive Replication (with extension)
Reproducing a study while adding new variables or conditions to expand upon the original findings. Goal: Extend the original study by adding new variables, conditions, or methods while still examining the original hypothesis. Key Feature: Builds upon a direct or conceptual replication by adding something new to further explore the original findings.
Role Playing
A technique where participants take on roles and act out behaviors in imagined scenarios to elicit authentic responses. This approach can use either completely imagined scenarios or scripted situations with actors.
Electronic vs Human Confederate
Electronic Confederates: Computer-based, simulate human behavior, consistent and standardized. Reduce bias, fatigue, and errors. Best for large-scale, controlled studies. Human Confederates: Real people acting in studies. Provide natural interactions but may introduce inconsistency (e.g., fatigue, emotions). Key Difference: Electronic confederates = consistency, Human confederates = realism but variability.
Paper People Study
are a type of experimental vignette methodology (EVM) where participants are presented with written vignettes describing hypothetical people or scenarios. They are then asked to make explicit decisions, judgments, or express preferences based on these scenarios. This method allows researchers to manipulate variables and assess causal relationships in a controlled environment.
Consider the Cable & Judge (1994) study from Week 6. Explain why the study might (or might not) be a good candidate for a replication. Suggest a form and design of a replication. Justify the type of replication you would conduct, identify challenges you would face, and support conceptual changes you would make in doing the replication.
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Conceptual Replication
involves purposefully altering at least one element of the original study’s design to test the consistency in findings regarding the variables and relationships. Goal: Test the same hypothesis or theory, but with different methods or procedures. Key Feature: Purposeful alteration of one or more aspects of the original study to test if the same findings hold under new conditions.
Laboratory Reserarch
is a type of study conducted in a controlled, indoor setting where researchers manipulate specific variables to observe participants' responses. This environment allows for greater control over factors that could influence the results, making it easier to isolate the effects of the treatment or stimuli being studied. While it offers strong internal validity, it may sacrifice some ecological validity, as the setting may not fully reflect real-world conditions.
Constructive Replication (with extension)
Reproducing a study while adding new variables or conditions to expand upon the original findings. Goal: Extend the original study by adding new variables, conditions, or methods while still examining the original hypothesis. Key Feature: Builds upon a direct or conceptual replication by adding something new to further explore the original findings.
Policy Capturing
is a research technique within experimental vignette methodology (EVM) used to study decision-making processes. In this method, participants are presented with multiple scenarios containing carefully manipulated variables, and they are asked to make choices or rank options. The goal is to understand how different factors influence implicit decision-making processes, often capturing judgments that participants may not be fully aware of. It is commonly used in areas like organizational behavior and management to analyze how individuals make complex decisions in real-time.
Consider crafting a quick-guide or cheat-sheet of sorts for authors to help them to ensure ethical transparency in their reporting. What are the most important elements or recommendations your guide would include?
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Direct Replication
Repeating an original study as closely as possible to check if the same results are obtained. Goal: Reproduce the exact results of the original study by following the same methods as closely as possible. Key Feature: No intentional changes; the purpose is to confirm the validity of the original findings.
Non-Field Research
research conducted outside of natural or real-world environments, using controlled settings to manipulate variables and isolate effects. This method allows researchers to enhance causal inferences but often needs help with ecological validity, meaning the findings may only partially generalize to real-life situations. Standard techniques in non-field research include simulations, role-playing, scenario-based studies, and laboratory or computer-based tasks, all aiming to recreate real-world conditions and evoke authentic participant responses.
Conceptual Replication
involves purposefully altering at least one element of the original study’s design to test the consistency in findings regarding the variables and relationships. Goal: Test the same hypothesis or theory, but with different methods or procedures. Key Feature: Purposeful alteration of one or more aspects of the original study to test if the same findings hold under new conditions.
In Grey’s Anatomy, an example of policy capturing using the characters could be a situation where Meredith Grey, Cristina Yang, and Alex Karev are discussing different patients and deciding on treatment options based on their own priorities.
For instance:
Meredith Grey might focus on patient A, a 70-year-old with a heart condition. She’s known for her empathy and might prioritize quality of life and family dynamics, considering the emotional impact on the patient’s family if surgery fails.
Cristina Yang, being highly focused on surgical outcomes, might prefer patient B, a 30-year-old with cancer, where there’s a higher likelihood of a full recovery and the challenge excites her technically.
Alex Karev, who is great with children and often considers patient vulnerability, might advocate for patient C, a 45-year-old with kidney failure, because they have a strong chance for recovery and it aligns with his focus on vulnerable patients.
Each character’s decision is shaped by their individual values and priorities—Meredith’s empathy, Cristina’s technical ambition, and Alex’s focus on vulnerable patients. By observing how each doctor consistently makes decisions, you can capture their "policy" for determining patient care priorities. This reflects policy capturing
Policy Capturing
Electronic Confederates: Computer-based, simulate human behavior, consistent and standardized. Reduce bias, fatigue, and errors. Best for large-scale, controlled studies. Human Confederates: Real people acting in studies. Provide natural interactions but may introduce inconsistency (e.g., fatigue, emotions). Key Difference: Electronic confederates = consistency, Human confederates = realism but variability.
Replication
Duplication of prior research to verify or expand findings. To confirm the structures and mechanisms identified in the original study under similar contingent conditions
Scenarios
are carefully designed descriptions of situations used in research to simulate real-life events. They allow participants to react as they would in real life, helping researchers control variables and observe how people make decisions or behave.
Ecological Validity
extent to which the findings from a research study can be generalized to real-life settings. It reflects how similar the research environment and conditions are to the natural environment where the behavior would typically occur. The more a study mirrors real-world contexts, the higher its ecological validity, allowing for more accurate application of the results to everyday situations.
Researchers might create two short scenarios. In the first vignette, an employee notices a co-worker is misusing company resources, such as using the office printer for personal projects. In the second vignette, an employee sees the same behavior but from a higher-ranking manager. After reading each story, participants (employees or managers) are asked how they would respond: report the issue, ignore it, or talk to the person directly. By using these vignettes, researchers can explore how factors like the employee's position or rank affect ethical decision-making in a business setting without having to observe actual workplace situations.
Experimental Vignette
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