Failing to replicate predicts citation declines in psychology.

ABSTRACT: With a sample of 228 psychology papers that failed to replicate, we tested whether the trajectory of citation patterns changes following the publication of a failure to replicate. Across models, we found consistent evidence that failing to replicate predicted lower future citations and that the size of this reduction increased over time. In a 14-y postpublication period, we estimated that the publication of a failed replication was associated with an average citation decline of 14% for original papers. These findings suggest that the publication of failed replications may contribute to a self-correcting science by decreasing scholars' reliance on unreplicable original findings.

SUBMITTER: Clark CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10629524 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature