26% of reanalyses do not confirm original findings from the same data

The same dataset and research question can result in different conclusions depending on how researchers choose to conduct their analysis, finds new research led by researchers from Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) and Corvinus University of Budapest. This highlights the methodological sensitivity of research findings.

In a project co-led by researchers Balázs Aczél, Professor from ELTE, and Barnabás Szászi, Associate Professor from Corvinus University and Assistant Professor at ELTE, 457 independent analysts conducted 504 reanalyses of data from 100 published social and behavioural science studies. At least five analysts reanalysed the original data with the original research question, but were free to choose how to conduct the analysis.

Across all reanalyses, 74% reached the exact same conclusion as the original authors. Inconclusive results or no effect were reported in 24% of cases, while 2% reported the opposite effect to the original conclusion.

Unanimous agreement within studies was also uncommon: considering each study was reanalysed by at least five analysts, only 34% of studies saw all analysts reaching the same conclusion as the original authors.

“These findings do not call into question the credibility of prior research. Rather, they draw attention to the fact that presenting a single analysis often fails to reflect the true degree of empirical uncertainty, and that ignoring analytic variability can lead to unwarranted confidence in scientific conclusions,” says Aczél.

“We advocate for the broader use of multi-analyst and ‘multiverse’ approaches, especially for questions of high scientific or societal importance. Rather than seeking a single true answer, these approaches make visible how stable—or fragile—scientific conclusions really are,” says Szászi.

These findings were first published in Nature on 1 April 2026.

/ENDS

About Corvinus University of Budapest
Corvinus University of Budapest is Hungary's leading university in the field of business, economics, and social sciences. Maintained by the Maecenas Universitatis Corvini Foundation, Corvinus University currently has around 8,000 students, including 2,000 international students. The school has close links with 170 partner universities worldwide and is regularly included in international higher education rankings. In 2025, Corvinus earned the 5 Palmes of Excellence award from Eduniversal and is the only university in Hungary in the field of economics to hold two international institutional accreditations (AMBA and AACSB).

For more information, a copy of the research paper, or to speak with researcher Barnabás Szászi, contact Kyle Grizzell from BlueSky Education on +44 (0) 1582 790709 or kyle@bluesky-pr.com