A multi-lab study: Its significance and challenges

Abstract

Recently, a multi-lab study has become increasingly popular. It’s one of the empirical study methods where researchers from various regions and cultures around the world conduct research at the same time using the same procedures. This paper discusses how to participate in a multi-lab study, the advantages of the participation, and the problems associated with the participation. First, any researchers can be involved in a multi-lab study and its process is not much different from that of traditional international collaborative studies. Next, it is highlighted that multi-lab studies have greater academic implications than meta-analyses and that providing Japanese data increases the significance of it. Finally, the paper points out that the financial and authorship issues associated with the participation in a multi-lab study should be overcome.