For the past several years, social scientists have been deeply worried about the replicability of their findings. Incredibly influential, textbook findings in psychology — like the “ego depletion” theory of willpower, or the “marshmallow test” — have been bending or breaking under rigorous retests. And the scientists have learned that what they used to consider commonplace methodological practices were really just recipes to generate false positives. This period has been called the “replication crisis” by some. While this is certainly a red flag for science, there’s also a silver lining to the issue of replicability: by learning from failed replications, scientists learn to do better science.
Why it’s OK that scientists are failing to replicate social science studies
More of Today's Solutions
Yangtze River sees major ecological recovery after China’s fishing ban
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM After decades of ecological decline, China’s Yangtze River, Asia’s longest and one of the most degraded waterways in ...
Read More10 brain-boosting hobbies for older adults that help keep the brain and body ...
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Many people yearn for the golden years of retirement, where the grind often slows down, and we have ...
Read MoreNavigating counteroffers: a complete guide to making the right career move
Starting a job search is like stepping onto a carousel of potential opportunities. Once you secure that amazing new job offer, the excitement is palpable. But what if, just ...
Read MoreAre holiday tunes good for your health? Here’s what science says
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Love it or hate it, Christmas music is an inescapable part of the holiday season. For some, it’s ...
Read More
