On Reproducible and Replicable Gerontology

Abstract

Gerontological research focuses on longer timescales and different data sources than many other areas of behavioral and medical science. It is further important that gerontology rise to respond to the reproducibility revolution and engage in open and replicable science. However, most of the recent emphases on replication come from fields where data collection takes weeks or months, not the years or decades common to gerontological studies. The goal of this paper is to review existing recommendations for carrying out open science and tailor them to the needs of gerontological and longitudinal research. By being more transparent in our procedures and analytic decisions, replicating internally and externally to existing data, and better integrating our work with that of cutting-edge statistical methods, we can create more open and reproducible gerontological research. In doing so, our conclusions will be more accurate, more interpretable, and easier to disseminate to researchers and practitioners.