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Published on: November 27, 2019
An accelerating crisis: Metascience is out-reproducing psychological science
1Minerva Schools at the Keck Graduate Institute, San Francisco, CA94103, USA. pwatson@minerva.kgi.edu; https://www.patrickdkwatson.com/.
Scientists use two strategies for spreading ideas: broad, easy-to-share concepts (r-strategy) or rigorously tested statements (K-strategy). A "generalizability crisis" allows less robust, K-strategic articles to spread widely, similar to popular psychology memes.
Area of Science:
- Scientific communication
- Psychology of science
Background:
- Scientific claims compete for attention and survival within the research community.
- Scientists may adopt an 'r-strategy' (rapid, broad dissemination) or a 'K-strategy' (robust, well-tested claims).
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the impact of the "generalizability crisis" on the dissemination of scientific ideas.
- To analyze how methodological articles with K-strategic approaches spread compared to popular science memes.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of scientific dissemination strategies.
- Comparison of the spread of K-strategic methodology articles versus r-strategic popular psychology memes.
Main Results:
- The "generalizability crisis" acts as a catalyst, accelerating the spread of certain scientific content.
- Methodology-focused articles, often K-strategic, achieve dissemination rates comparable to highly popular, r-strategic psychological concepts.
Conclusions:
- The current scientific environment may inadvertently favor the rapid spread of less robust, methodology-focused research.
- Understanding dissemination dynamics is crucial for navigating the "generalizability crisis" and promoting impactful scientific findings.
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