The National Centre of Expertise on Science and Society (NEWS) has become an official partner of the Netherlands Reproducibility Network (NLRN). Together NEWS and NLRN will work to make the reproducibility of research a more prominent part of how science is communicated to society.
Replication of research is a cornerstone of reliable science, yet in practice it often receives too little attention. Science communication tends to highlight new discoveries rather than the verification of existing findings. NEWS and NLRN want to help change that. NLRN connects universities, university medical centers, universities of applied sciences, and other organizations committed to improving research reproducibility. By sharing expertise and best practices, partners accelerate the transition towards more transparent and trustworthy research.
Replication and reproduction. How does it work?
What exactly is the difference between replication and reproducibility? And what is the problem? Replication refers to repeating (part of) a study. This is often carried out by a different team of researchers than those who conducted the original study, sometimes many years later. The goal is to determine whether a previously observed effect can be found again.
Reproducibility refers to repeating only the analysis. The original data (such as historical sources or experimental measurements) are analysed again by others to examine whether they draw the same conclusions from the same dataset.
Although both processes of repetition are crucial, replicating a study or reproducing an analysis is by no means straightforward. Researchers do not always share sufficient details about their study design, and scientific research often involves highly specialized knowledge and skills. In addition, data are not always shared openly or stored properly, which makes reproducibility difficult.
Moreover, there are few incentives in the scientific system to replicate research. Many funders prioritize innovative, groundbreaking and above all new research proposals. Likewise, scientific journals rarely make room for verification studies or corrections.
A more realistic view of science
‘We need to move toward a more realistic view of science,’ says Sicco de Knecht, Director of NEWS. ‘That means showing society how knowledge is built step by step, and how it is continuously tested and refined. Science is not just a series of spectacular breakthroughs; it’s a careful process of replication, verification, and consensus-building. People outside academia should also understand how scientists scrutinize and improve each other’s work.’
Involving society
Michiel de Boer, Chair of NLRN, emphasizes the importance of science communication in this process. ‘Effective science communication can itself strengthen research reproducibility and help make science more accessible to the public,’ he says. ‘Think of citizen science projects, where studies conducted by professional scientists are replicated and verified together with citizen scientists. This creates a more robust and shared understanding of the phenomena being studied.’
But collaboration doesn’t have to be complex, De Boer adds. ‘It’s already extremely valuable when researchers have their assumptions questioned by people outside academia. Real-world experiences can yield powerful insights into how data are analysed or how study design might influence results.’
Next steps: building practical tools
In the coming months, NEWS and NLRN will develop ways to engage both researchers and science communicators in their shared mission. ‘We want to offer practical guidance to help make replication and reproducibility part of everyday conversations about science,’ says De Knecht. ‘For instance, through expert sessions and collaborative initiatives.’ ‘These are challenging topics,’ adds De Boer, ‘but that makes it all the more important to make them accessible and familiar.’