Credibility revolution

Last updated on Feb 26, 2026
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Definition: The problems and the solutions resulting from a growing distrust in scientific findings, following concerns about the credibility of scientific claims (e.g., low replicability). The term has been proposed as a more positive alternative to the term replicability crisis, and includes the many solutions to improve the credibility of research, such as preregistration, transparency, and replication.

Related terms: Credibility of scientific claims, High standards of evidence, Openness, Open Science;Reproducibility crisis (aka Replicability or replication crisis), Transparency

References:

  • Angrist, J. D., & Pischke, J. S. (2010). The credibility revolution in empirical economics: How better research design is taking the con out of econometrics. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 24, 3–30. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.24.2.3
  • Vazire, S. (2018). Implications of the Credibility Revolution for Productivity, Creativity, and Progress. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 13(4), 411–417. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691617751884
  • Vazire, S., Schiavone, S. R., & Bottesini, J. G. (2020). Credibility Beyond Replicability: Improving the Four Validities in Psychological Science. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/bu4d3

Originally drafted by: Tamara Kalandadze

Reviewed by: Bradley Baker, Mahmoud Elsherif, Helena Hartmann, Kai Krautter, Annalise A. LaPlume, Oscar Lecuona, Charlotte R. Pennington, Robert Ross, Tobias Wingen, FlĂĄvio Azevedo