<\/span><\/h2>\nReproducibility in research<\/strong> is a major factor that determines the uniqueness of research study. It means obtaining consistent results using the same data and protocol as the original study. For example, researchers confirm the validity of a new discovery by repeating the experiments that produced the original results. Moreover, other researchers in the field are also able to repeat the same experiments producing the results similar to the original results.<\/p>\nThis exercise of producing valid experiments and results build authentic scientific discoveries which are more reliable in the scientific fraternity and help develop robust literature for future research studies of the same field. However, many research studies provide significant results but their findings cannot be reproduced. It disappoints the researchers and raises the question on whether the research question or the hypothesis of the research study is valid; and should the researcher plan a different methodology to approach the research question.<\/p>\n
Although a challenging and an often discussed topic, scientific reproducibility has been an issue that institutes and funding agencies are trying to resolve. The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) identifies methods and best practices that would enhance the reproducibility in fundamental research. Furthermore, ASCB has given different terms explaining reproducibility as follows:<\/p>\n
Direct Replication \u2013 Wherein the original experimental design and conditions are used to reproduce previously observed results.<\/p>\n
Analytic Replication \u2013 A series of scientific findings are reproduced by reanalyzing the original data set.<\/p>\n
Systemic Replication \u2013 Published findings are reproduced under different experimental conditions.<\/p>\n
Conceptual Replication \u2013 A phenomenon is validated by evaluating a different set of experimental conditions.<\/p>\n