The overarching mission of many social science researchers is to understand “what works” for improving life outcomes. However, mounting evidence suggests that results from many studies do not replicate and are not robust to other target populations and settings of interest. In this presentation, we discuss recent developments to improve both the replicability and generalizability of study results including preregistration of study designs and methods, new approaches for conducting and organizing replication studies, and using crowdsourcing or big-team science.
Vivian Wong is an Associate Professor of Research, Statistics, and Evaluation at the University of Virginia. She is interested in experimental and quasi-experimental evaluation approaches, as well as developing new methods for the design and analysis of replication studies.
Bryan Cook is a Professor of Special Education at the University of Virginia. He is interested in open science, meta-research, and evidence-based practices for students with and at risk for disabilities. He co-directs the Special Education Research Accelerator, a platform for supporting crowdsourced research in special education.