G10 - PLENARY: Replicability, Reproducibility, Rigor, and Red Herrings

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Critics of research with nonhuman animals often cite the presumed “replication/reproducibility crisis” as undeniable evidence that such research is pointless and should end immediately. However, it is important to note there isn’t a universally accepted definition of either of these terms. In fact, not only are these terms defined differently by different disciplines, they also vary by geographical location (e.g., US vs. Europe). Furthermore, the banding around these terms can undermine ethically sound and scientifically valid research with humans and other animals and can reflect a limited understanding of the scientific process. This session will explore the problems with conflating these terms because of how each is defined and used, and they can be used to undermine nonhuman animal research. Speakers will also describe how research programs, scientists, and publishers are adopting their own strategies to improve the transparency and replicability of research with animals.