Replication and pre-registration in comparative psychology

Abstract

There is growing interest and pressure to find ways to address the so-called "replication crisis" in psychology and other areas of science. This includes increasing transparency and implementing good practices in all areas of experimental research, and in particular to promote attempts at replication. Comparative psychology has a long history of efforts to replicate and extend previous research, but it is often difficult to do this when highly specialized methods or uncommon species are being studied. I propose that comparative researchers make greater use of pre-registration as a way to ensure good practices, and I outline some of the ways in which this can be accomplished.