"What We Have Here, Is a Failure to [Replicate]": Ways to Solve a Replication Crisis in Implementation Science

Area of Science:

• Implementation Science
• Open Science
• Research Methodology

Background:

• Replication studies are crucial for scientific progress and the open science movement.
• Implementation science (IS) has historically underutilized replication studies.
• Lack of replication hinders transparency, openness, and replicability in IS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current state of replication in implementation trials.
• To identify gaps and propose next steps for increasing replication in IS.
• To enhance transparency, openness, and replicability in implementation research.

Main Methods:

• Overview of study replication and its role in open science.
• Examination of the current approach to replication in IS.
• Discussion of different replication types (direct vs. conceptual) and their benefits.
• Case example: Designing and interpreting a replication study using Getting To Outcomes©.

Main Results:

• Replication in IS faces unique challenges compared to intervention replication.
• Different types of replication, like direct and conceptual, offer distinct benefits.
• A framework for designing and interpreting replication studies is presented.

Conclusions:

• IS must embrace replication to align with open science principles.
• Strategies are needed to improve the likelihood and quality of replication studies.
• Collaboration between researchers and practitioners can foster widespread replication and public health improvement.