Using Nonnaive Participants Can Reduce Effect Sizes

Psychol Sci. 2015 Jul;26(7):1131-9. doi: 10.1177/0956797615585115. Epub 2015 Jun 10.

Abstract

Although researchers often assume their participants are naive to experimental materials, this is not always the case. We investigated how prior exposure to a task affects subsequent experimental results. Participants in this study completed the same set of 12 experimental tasks at two points in time, first as a part of the Many Labs replication project and again a few days, a week, or a month later. Effect sizes were markedly lower in the second wave than in the first. The reduction was most pronounced when participants were assigned to a different condition in the second wave. We discuss the methodological implications of these findings.

Keywords: effect sizes; judgment and decision making; nonnaïveté; open data; open materials; panel conditioning; repeated participation; research methods.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Patient Participation / methods*
  • Patient Selection*