Premium
Promoting Replicability in Developmental Research Through Meta‐analyses: Insights From Language Acquisition Research
Author(s) -
Bergmann Christina,
Tsuji Sho,
Piccinini Page E.,
Lewis Molly L.,
Braginsky Mika,
Frank Michael C.,
Cristia Alejandrina
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/cdev.13079
Subject(s) - psychology , meta analysis , sample size determination , language development , statistical power , research design , language acquisition , developmental psychology , statistics , mathematics education , medicine , mathematics
Previous work suggests that key factors for replicability, a necessary feature for theory building, include statistical power and appropriate research planning. These factors are examined by analyzing a collection of 12 standardized meta‐analyses on language development between birth and 5 years. With a median effect size of Cohen's d = .45 and typical sample size of 18 participants, most research is underpowered (range = 6%–99%; median = 44%); and calculating power based on seminal publications is not a suitable strategy. Method choice can be improved, as shown in analyses on exclusion rates and effect size as a function of method. The article ends with a discussion on how to increase replicability in both language acquisition studies specifically and developmental research more generally.