Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026
05:15
The (Spatial) Memory Game: Testing the Relationship Between Spatial Language, Object Knowledge, and Spatial Cognition
Published on: February 19, 2018
Investigating experiential effects in online chess using a hierarchical Bayesian analysis.
Adam Gee1, Sydney O Seese2, James P Curley2
1Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada.
Journal of Quantitative Analysis in Sports
|June 17, 2026
Summary
Winner-loser effects in psychology and sports are hard to study due to limited data. Online chess data reveals little evidence for consistent winner-loser effects across all players, though some individuals show effects.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Economics
- Sports Science
Background:
- Winner-loser effects are debated in sports and psychology.
- Data scarcity often limits research into these effects.
- Online chess offers a rich dataset for studying player behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and consistency of winner-loser effects in online chess.
- To leverage large-scale online chess data for psychological research.
- To apply advanced statistical modeling to behavioral data.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a hierarchical Bayesian regression model.
- Analyzed a large dataset from online chess games.
- Employed methods to validate the model given temporal data challenges.
Main Results:
- Found minimal evidence for winner-loser effects consistent across all online chess players.
- Observed some individual players exhibiting evidence of such effects.
- Model validation confirmed suitability for analyzing temporal behavioral data.
Conclusions:
- Winner-loser effects are not universally consistent among online chess players.
- Individual differences play a role in the manifestation of these effects.
- Online chess data is a valuable resource for psychological and behavioral research.
