Reproducibility is one of the main principles of the scientific method.
An experimental description (thought experiment) produced by a particular researcher or group of researchers is generally evaluated by other independent researchers by attempting to reproduce it; they repeat the same experiment themselves and see if it gives equal results as reported by the original group.
The result values are commensurate if they are obtained (in distinct experimental trials) according to the same reproducible experimental description and procedure.
Reproducibility of experimental notions allows to express and to test experimentally falsifiable hypotheses concerning the Equality and repetition of the corresponding result values, as obtained over sufficiently many trials, and to further characterize the neighbourhood to which these distinct trials belonged together as members.
Procedures which are highly reproducible remain highly reproducible.
In contrast, result values which were found to be highly repetitive as obtained over some particular set of trials, may only be expected to remain repetitive, as found in the next trial.
Scientific method's dependence upon reproducibility has a strong influence on scientific writing. Because reproducibility of thought-experimental definitions, algorithms such as recipes, and of results obtained in their application allows them to be communicated,
there is tendency to remove redundancy or elaboration in scientific writing
in favor of giving exhaustive citations.
See also