Scientific reproducibility is the extent to which scientific data and results can be replicated using the same methods outlined by the original researchers Reproducibility is important for adding support and meaning to scientific findings and is the reliability of a finding Significant results are meaningless if they cannot be replicated because that would imply that the original results were obtained due to error or chance Systematic and or random errors can result in the lack of reproducibility of a study If the methods and conditions that the original researchers utilized are not clearly specified this could also cause issues for replication of the study False positives and negatives are also possibilities and can jeopardize the integrity of the results The issue of reproducibility is not unique to Psychology but is a constant topic throughout all branches and fields of scientific research If the original researchers are not completely transparent in their methods this could result in problems with reproducibility Random and systematic errors present in a study can result in faulty data and the inability to replicate the results Other unforeseen factors such as environmental effects could impact the results obtained and the observation of the original finding Obtaining results that are actually false positives or negatives can also jeopardize the integrity of the results and their reproducibility Results that cannot be replicated can indicate that the original results were obtained due to error or that the original researchers were not entirely transparent in their methods
