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A preregistered multi-lab replication of Maier et al. (2014, Exp. 4) testing retroactive avoidance.
Markus A Maier1, Vanessa L Buechner1, Moritz C Dechamps1
1Department of Psychology, Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany.
Plos One
|September 1, 2020
Summary
This study investigated retroactive avoidance, where future events influence past behavior. A large-scale replication failed to find evidence for this controversial effect, questioning its robustness.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Parapsychology
Background:
- Retroactive avoidance proposes future stimuli can influence past behavior, challenging causality.
- Preliminary evidence for retroactive avoidance exists but is debated.
- A 2014 study reported meager evidence for retroactive avoidance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To rigorously replicate the findings of Maier et al. (2014) on retroactive avoidance.
- To assess the robustness and validity of retroactive avoidance.
- To address the debate surrounding the existence of retroactive avoidance.
Main Methods:
- A large-scale, preregistered, multi-lab replication study (N=2004).
- Utilized Bayesian analysis to evaluate evidence for and against retroactive avoidance.
- Employed a sophisticated random stimulus selection procedure.
Main Results:
- The data strongly favored the null hypothesis, indicating the absence of retroactive avoidance (BF01 = 4.38).
- The replication failed to support the original findings.
- Bayesian evidence against retroactive avoidance was not decisive.
Conclusions:
- The findings question the validity and robustness of previously reported retroactive avoidance effects.
- The study highlights the importance of high-powered, preregistered replications in psychological research.
- Exploratory analyses suggest potential avenues for future research into anomalies observed in the data.
