The Epistemic Function of Replication: Mapping the Domains of the Debate

The “replication crisis” has sparked extensive debate about core epistemic issues in contemporary research practices. Central to this debate is the epistemic function of replication: how does replication contribute to knowledge, validity, and the structure of scientific inquiry? This paper offers a structured overview and analysis of 15 influential contributions to this debate. I categorize these papers along three key domains of focus: the relation between a replication and the original study; the role of replication within specific scientific disciplines; and its significance for science as a whole. My analysis reveals two notable research gaps. First, few articles address all three domains in an integrated way. Second, the literature appears to follow a temporal trajectory - from early enthusiasm, through critical reflection, to a more balanced reengagement -which merits further attention. Overall, this essay offers an initial analysis of the literature concerned with the epistemic function of replication.