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Are strategic management studies results reproducible?

  • 1.  Are strategic management studies results reproducible?

    Posted 05-04-2017 07:45

    Dear Colleagues,

     

    The following article raises questions about the reproducibility and credibility of strategic management studies results. Our intention is NOT to point fingers or assign blame. Rather, we are asking questions that we think are important and necessary for the future of our field.

     

    ·       Bergh, D. D., Sharp, B. M., Aguinis, H., & Li, M. in press. Is there a credibility crisis in strategic management research? Evidence on the reproducibility of study findings. Strategic Organization. doi: 10.1177/1476127017701076

     

    The article is available at http://hermanaguinis.com/pubs.html and the Abstract is below. We look forward to a fruitful conversation regarding these important issues!

     

    All the best,

     

    --Herman.

     

    ABSTRACT

    Recent studies report an inability to replicate previously published research, leading some to suggest that scientific knowledge is facing a credibility crisis. In this essay, we provide evidence on whether strategic management research may itself be vulnerable to these concerns. We conducted a study whereby we attempted to reproduce the empirical findings of 88 articles appearing in the Strategic Management Journal using data reported in the articles themselves.  About 70 percent of the studies did not disclose enough data to permit independent tests of reproducibility of their findings. Of those that could be retested, almost one-third reported hypotheses as statistically significant which were no longer so and far more significant results were found to be non-significant in the reproductions than in the opposite direction. Collectively, incomplete reporting practices, disclosure errors, and possible opportunism limit the reproducibility of most studies. Until disclosure standards and requirements change to include more complete reporting and facilitate tests of reproducibility, the strategic management field appears vulnerable to a credibility crisis.

     

    Herman Aguinis, Ph.D.

    Avram Tucker Distinguished Scholar and Professor of Management

    George Washington University School of Business

    2201 G Street, NW

    Washington, DC 20052

    http://hermanaguinis.com/

     

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