Strengthening service research through replication: contributions, guidelines, and a checklist

Purpose Despite increasing recognition of the importance of replication studies in confirming or refining our understanding of established phenomena, they remain relatively scarce in service research. This paper has two primary objectives. First, it aims to enhance conceptual clarity by developing a taxonomy of replication studies and their respective contributions to the service literature. Second, it provides practical guidance for conducting and publishing quantitative replication studies that generate meaningful value for the service management field. Design/methodology/approach The paper adopts a conceptual and reflective approach rooted in the broader replication literature and existing replication studies in service research. Findings This paper classifies replication studies along three dimensions – replication fidelity, researcher independence, and claim provenance and demonstrates that such studies can yield substantial contributions that extend beyond mere verification. In particular, we develop an integrated framework that distinguishes four complementary contribution pathways and associated goals – theory-confirming (validating), theory-extending (extending), methodological (refining), and practical contributions (translating), and illustrate each with examples from the service literature. In addition, we propose a five-step set of guidelines for conducting, writing, and evaluating replication studies. Originality/value This paper is the first to systematically examine the key dimensions of replication studies and to develop a comprehensive framework that delineates the diverse contributions such studies can generate. In addition, it offers practical guidance for conducting replication studies in service research, thereby lowering the barriers for service scholars to engage in replication work. To support this effort, we develop a comprehensive checklist that enables authors, reviewers, and editors to systematically assess the quality of replication studies.