Is Replication Relevant for Qualitative Research?

Replication, broadly defined as the repetition of a research study, generally among different subjects and/or situations, is commonly conducted in quantitative research with the aim of determining whether the basic findings of the original study can be generalized to other circumstances. Qualitative researchers have for many years objected to the notion of replicability, seeing it as being incompatible with qualitative research, on several grounds, including the context-bound nature of qualitative research as well as methodological and representational limitations. Instead, the concept of transferability has been suggested, a concept that refers to the degree to which the results of qualitative research can be transferred to other contexts or settings, conducted among other respondents. However, the value of replication in qualitative research, the similarities and differences between replication and transferability, and the relation between transferability and generalization have, to date, scarcely been discussed. In this paper, I make a claim in favor of a type of replication that is compatible with qualitative research and consider four critical aspects: the type of replication, the researcher's epistemological stance and approach, the aim of the replication, and the nature of the study. Finally, I present two strategies that are critical when planning a qualitative replication study: consideration of context(s) and the need for transparency.