Replicability in Empirical Legal Research

Annual Review of Law and Social Science, Forthcoming

48 Pages Posted: 6 Feb 2021

See all articles by Jason Chin

Jason Chin

Australian National University (ANU) - College of Law

Kathryn Zeiler

Boston University - School of Law

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: January 1, 2021

Abstract

As part of a broader methodological reform movement, scientists are increasingly interested in improving the replicability of their research. Replicability allows others to perform replications to explore potential errors and statistical issues that might call the original results into question. Little attention, however, has been paid to the state of replicability in the field of empirical legal research (ELR). Quality is especially important in this field because empirical legal researchers produce work that is regularly relied upon by courts and other legal bodies. In this review article, we summarize the current state of ELR relative to the broader movement towards replicability in the social sciences. As part of that aim, we summarize recent collective replication efforts in ELR and transparency and replicability guidelines adopted by journals that publish ELR. Based on this review, ELR seems to be lagging other fields in implementing reforms. We conclude with suggestions for reforms that might encourage improved replicability.

Keywords: Empirical legal research, metascience, replicability, reproducibility, verification, open science, law and economics, law and psychology

JEL Classification: K10, K19

Suggested Citation

Chin, Jason and Zeiler, Kathryn, Replicability in Empirical Legal Research (January 1, 2021). Annual Review of Law and Social Science, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3758424 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3758424

Jason Chin (Contact Author)

Australian National University (ANU) - College of Law ( email )

Australia

Kathryn Zeiler

Boston University - School of Law ( email )

765 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
137
Abstract Views
1,073
Rank
379,079
PlumX Metrics