Cited by 38Statistical Methods and Bayesian InferenceOptimal Experimental Design MethodsStatistical Methods and Applications

Pseudoreplication is (still) a problem.

Freeberg, Todd M., Lucas, Jeffrey R.·2009·Journal of Comparative Psychology

Abstract

Hurlbert (1984) laid out a rationale for why experimental designs need to consider statistical problems related to pseudoreplication of data. This paper has been a cornerstone for more proper experimental design in many fields. Nonetheless, Schank and Koehnle (2009) argue that pseudoreplication is no longer a relevant issue. We disagree with this conclusion. We list a number of distortions of the original Hurlbert paper that are found in Schank and Koehnle. In addition, we note that some of the original suggestions in Hurlbert are no longer valid because statistical techniques have inevitably evolved to provide stronger tests than were available 25 years ago.

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Crossref · 10.1037/a0017031

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  • Pseudoreplication has been addressed repeatedly in ecology, agriculture, psychology, and neuroscience and acknowledged as one of the most common statistical mistakes in scientific literature.

    “Pseudoreplication has been addressed repeatedly in ecology, agriculture, psychology, and neuroscience and acknowledged as one of the most common statistical mistakes in scientific literature4–9.”

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Authors
Freeberg, T. M., & Lucas, J. R.
Affiliations
University of Tennessee at Knoxville (US)
Venue
Journal of Comparative Psychology
Published
2009-11
Volume
123
Issue
4
Pages
450-451
ISSN
  • 0093-4127 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-2087
  • 0735-7036
OpenAlex
W1990387061
Cited by
37
References
13
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 2 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 1
FWCI
0.55
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of comparative psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Statistical Methods and Bayesian Inference
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Optimal Experimental Design Methods
  • Physical Sciences › Mathematics › Statistics and Probability › Statistical Methods and Applications
Keywords
pseudoreplication, experimental design, statistical power, repeated measures, within-subjects design
MeSH terms
Analysis of Variance, Animals, Behavior, Animal, Ecology, Humans, Research Design, Reproducibility of Results, Models, Statistical, Bias

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