Trends of Replication Studies in Applied Linguistics Journals - A Systematic Review Over Half a Century

Oct 15, 2026

Replication research underpins reliability and generalizability, yet applied linguistics has produced relatively few replications. This systematic review analyzed replication studies published in 92 leading applied linguistics journals from 1970 to 2021, using five analytical themes: replication labels, methodological orientations, research trends, authorship, and citation counts of replicators. Findings show explicit mention of replication labels since 2002, focus on quantitative studies, frequent replication of second language acquisition work, growth in collaborative authorship, and increased involvement of influential scholars.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages33

Reading Time1 h 23 min

AccessFree to download

Background

Replication Definition and Function

Replication Status in Applied Linguistics

Trends of Replication Studies in Applied Linguistics Journals: A Systematic Review Over Half a Century Fahimeh Marefat Allameh Tabataba’i University Mahsa Farahanynia Pishtazan Institute of Higher Education Farzaneh Hamidi Allameh Tabataba’i University Mona Najjarpour Allameh Tabataba’i University Zahra Banitalebi Allameh Tabataba’i University Parvin Alamdar Allameh Tabataba’i University Abstract Despite the importance of replication research in scientific fields, very few replications are conducted in applied linguistics (AL) . To enhance language researchers’ awareness of replications and provide a systematic evaluation of current replications, this study analyzed replication studies published in 92 AL leading journals from 1970 to 2021 based on five themes of replication labels, methodological orientations, research trends, authorship, and citation counts of replicators. The results reveal that replication labels have explicitly been mentioned since 2002, the replication of quantitative studies has predominantly been raised, studies on second language acquisition were frequently replicated, collaborative authorship has increased in replications, and influential AL scholars tend to conduct replication research. The study highlights the need for a well-established framework with thorough descriptions of various replication labels functioning as a reference for replication studies and calls for replication research in the areas and methodological orientations marginalized in AL. It is also recommended that prominent figures perform more replication research to consolidate its status in AL. Résumé Malgré l'importance de la recherche en réplication dans les domaines scientifiques, très peude réplications sont menées en linguistique appliquée (LA) . Afin de sensibiliser les chercheurs en linguistique à la nécessité des réplications et de fournir une évaluation systématique des réplications actuelles, cette étude a analysé les études de réplication publiées dans 92 revues de premier plan en LA de 1970 à 2021, en se basant sur cinq thèmes: les étiquettes de réplication, les orientations méthodologiques, les tendances de recherche, l'auteurship et les comptes de citations des réplicateurs. Les résultats révèlent que les étiquettes de réplication ont été explicitement mentionnées depuis 2002, que les réplications d'études quantitatives ont été principalement abordées, que les études sur l'acquisition d'une langue seconde ont été fréquemment répliquées, que la collaboration entre auteurs a augmenté dans les réplications, et que les chercheurs influents en LA ont tendance à mener des recherches en réplication. Cette étude met en évidence la nécessité d'un cadre bien établi avec des descriptions détaillées des différentes étiquettes de réplication, servant de référence pour les études de réplication, et appelle à la recherche en réplication dans les domaines et orientations méthodologiques marginalisés en LA. Il est également recommandé que des personnalités éminentes effectuent davantage de recherches en réplication pour consolider son statut en LA. Trends of Replication Studies in Applied Linguistics Journals: A Systematic Review Over Half a Century Background Replication Definition and Function Replication research is an umbrella term referring to repeating experiments in order to evaluate the reliability and generalizability of previous research findings (Kobrock & Roettger, 2023) . Generally, replication studies (RSs) in which the same materials and procedures are used serve to test the reliability of original findings, and those in which specific methodological or participant characteristics are altered aim to validate the generalizability of original research findings (Marsden et al., 2018) . Replication research can also offer better explanations ofthe phenomena under investigation, which enriches and validates existing theories and substantially contributes to pedagogy. These issues highl

FAQs

What period and publication set does the systematic review cover?

It covers replication studies published in 92 leading applied linguistics journals from 1970 to 2021.

Which aspects of replication studies are analyzed?

The review analyzes replication labels, methodological orientations, research trends, authorship, and citation counts of replicators.

What do the results indicate about replication labels and study types?

Replication labels have been explicitly mentioned since 2002, and replications most often target quantitative studies, with second language acquisition work frequently replicated.

Oct 15, 2026

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