TOK Essay

Title: Is replicability necessary in the production of knowledge?

Discuss with reference to one Area of Knowledge.

“Non-replicable single occurrences are of no significance to science”. - Popper

(1959).
Replicability refers to the ability to reproduce an experiment, concept, statistics, or
a practical finding to produce consistent results. Replicability is considered to be a
key aspect in the production of knowledge in many Areas of Knowledge, with
Natural Sciences being commonly associated for establishing the validity and
reliability of research findings.
The pursuit of knowledge in the social sciences aims to comprehend human
behaviour, society, and cultural phenomena. In this essay, we explore the
significance of replicability in the production of knowledge within the social
sciences. Ultimately, this analysis allows us to understand the extent to which
replicability is necessary in enhancing the credibility of knowledge production
within this area of knowledge.

The ability to replicate studies allows researchers to test the reliability and
robustness of their findings across different contexts, populations, or timeframes.
Through replication, researchers can examine the consistency of results and
identify potential variations or limitations in methodology. An example of this is a
study in Psychology by Paul Broca in 1861 where he discovered a lesion in the
Posterior Inferior frontal gyrus of the left hemisphere of Louis Leborgne who lost
his ability to speak at the age of 30. The patient’s intelligence remained intact
however he lost his speech articulation. This information was available only after
an autopsy was conducted after the patient's death. Broca was cautious about
rushing to publish the results and therefore described 25 additional patients with
the same condition and finally concluded his findings.
As seen, replication was an utmost necessity here because generalising findings to
everyone based on a single theory or isolated case is unjustified and unreliable.
However, biases also play a role in impacting the findings of the original study. By
replicating the study through various ways and providing an opportunity for
alternative explanations, we can overcome the possibility of potential researcher
bias or subjective interpretations that may impact the reliability and objectivity of
the knowledge.

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Another important characteristic in replicating studies in Human Sciences is
ethical considerations. In the above example, there were no ethical considerations
as no human or animal was harmed physically or psychologically and all the
examined cases were naturally occuring. However, if there is to be additional
replication done in order to stabilise the trust in the theory, it would not be
possible without damaging parts of the brain which would be considered ethically
unacceptable. Additionally, ethical considerations, such as privacy or informed
consent, may restrict the replication of certain studies. Thus, even though
replication of the study might be necessary in order to prove its validity, it is not
always possible.
Replicability can face other challenges and limitations within the social sciences.
Human behaviour and social phenomena are often complex, multifaceted, and
influenced by contextual factors, making it challenging to reproduce identical
conditions.The social sciences also involve studying unique historical events or
individual experiences that cannot be directly replicated. However, while exact
replication may be limited, the replication of similar studies or methodologies can
still contribute to knowledge production by examining patterns or testing the
generalizability of findings.

Replicability is also necessary in the production of knowledge because it can help

to identify errors in a study. When a study is conducted, there is always a
possibility of errors occurring due to various factors such as human error or faulty
equipment. Replicating a study can help to identify such errors, and ensure that
they are corrected in subsequent studies. In addition, replicating a study can help
to identify variables that were not initially considered in the study, which can be
incorporated into future studies to improve their accuracy.

Even so, it's worth noting that while replicability is an important aspect of the
production of knowledge, it is not always necessary. For example, in some areas of
knowledge, such as history, replicability is not possible due to the unique and
unrepeatable nature of historical events. In Arts, replicating an artwork makes it
“fake,” “unauthentic,” and “worthless.” In such cases, other criteria, such as
evidence, logic, and critical thinking, are used to evaluate the production of
knowledge.

In conclusion, replicability is necessary in the production of knowledge, as it can

help scientists (natural and social) enhance the reliability and validity of their
knowledge claims. Replicability serves as a means of verification, error detection,

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and improving the accuracy of subsequent studies. However, replicating studies
can be challenging, requiring significant resources and ethical considerations. To
address these challenges, researchers can design studies that are easily replicable,
adopt open science practices, and prioritise the replication of studies in funding
and research policies. Overall, replicability is essential to the production of reliable
knowledge, and it is essential that researchers and institutions make every effort to
achieve it.

Bibliography:

1. Romero, Felipe. “Philosophy of Science and the Replicability Crisis.” Philosophy

Compass, vol. 14, no. 11, Wiley, Nov. 2019, https://doi.org/10.1111/phc3.12633.

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