A Multisite Preregistered Paradigmatic Test of the Ego-Depletion Effect. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • We conducted a preregistered multilaboratory project (k = 36; N = 3,531) to assess the size and robustness of ego-depletion effects using a novel replication method, termed the paradigmatic replication approach. Each laboratory implemented one of two procedures that was intended to manipulate self-control and tested performance on a subsequent measure of self-control. Confirmatory tests found a nonsignificant result (d = 0.06). Confirmatory Bayesian meta-analyses using an informed-prior hypothesis ( = 0.30, SD = 0.15) found that the data were 4 times more likely under the null than the alternative hypothesis. Hence, preregistered analyses did not find evidence for a depletion effect. Exploratory analyses on the full sample (i.e., ignoring exclusion criteria) found a statistically significant effect (d = 0.08); Bayesian analyses showed that the data were about equally likely under the null and informed-prior hypotheses. Exploratory moderator tests suggested that the depletion effect was larger for participants who reported more fatigue but was not moderated by trait self-control, willpower beliefs, or action orientation.

published proceedings

  • Psychol Sci

altmetric score

  • 125

author list (cited authors)

  • Vohs, K. D., Schmeichel, B. J., Lohmann, S., Gronau, Q. F., Finley, A. J., Ainsworth, S. E., ... Albarracn, D.

citation count

  • 85

complete list of authors

  • Vohs, Kathleen D||Schmeichel, Brandon J||Lohmann, Sophie||Gronau, Quentin F||Finley, Anna J||Ainsworth, Sarah E||Alquist, Jessica L||Baker, Michael D||Brizi, Ambra||Bunyi, Angelica||Butschek, Grant J||Campbell, Collier||Capaldi, Jonathan||Cau, Chuting||Chambers, Heather||Chatzisarantis, Nikos LD||Christensen, Weston J||Clay, Samuel L||Curtis, Jessica||De Cristofaro, Valeria||Del Rosario, Kareena||Diel, Katharina||Doğruol, Yasemin||Doi, Megan||Donaldson, Tina L||Eder, Andreas B||Ersoff, Mia||Eyink, Julie R||Falkenstein, Angelica||Fennis, Bob M||Findley, Matthew B||Finkel, Eli J||Forgea, Victoria||Friese, Malte||Fuglestad, Paul||Garcia-Willingham, Natasha E||Geraedts, Lea F||Gervais, Will M||Giacomantonio, Mauro||Gibson, Bryan||Gieseler, Karolin||Gineikiene, Justina||Gloger, Elana M||Gobes, Carina M||Grande, Maria||Hagger, Martin S||Hartsell, Bethany||Hermann, Anthony D||Hidding, Jasper J||Hirt, Edward R||Hodge, Josh||Hofmann, Wilhelm||Howell, Jennifer L||Hutton, Robert D||Inzlicht, Michael||James, Lily||Johnson, Emily||Johnson, Hannah L||Joyce, Sarah M||Joye, Yannick||Kaben, Jan Helge||Kammrath, Lara K||Kelly, Caitlin N||Kissell, Brian L||Koole, Sander L||Krishna, Anand||Lam, Christine||Lee, Kelemen T||Lee, Nick||Leighton, Dana C||Loschelder, David D||Maranges, Heather M||Masicampo, EJ||Mazara, Kennedy||McCarthy, Samantha||McGregor, Ian||Mead, Nicole L||Mendes, Wendy B||Meslot, Carine||Michalak, Nicholas M||Milyavskaya, Marina||Miyake, Akira||Moeini-Jazani, Mehrad||Muraven, Mark||Nakahara, Erin||Patel, Krishna||Petrocelli, John V||Pollak, Katja M||Price, Mindi M||Ramsey, Haley J||Rath, Maximilian||Robertson, Jacob A||Rockwell, Rachael||Russ, Isabella F||Salvati, Marco||Saunders, Blair||Scherer, Anne||Schütz, Astrid||Schmitt, Kristin N||Segerstrom, Suzanne C||Serenka, Benjamin||Sharpinskyi, Konstantyn||Shaw, Meaghan||Sherman, Janelle||Song, Yu||Sosa, Nicholas||Spillane, Kaitlyn||Stapels, Julia||Stinnett, Alec J||Strawser, Hannah R||Sweeny, Kate||Theodore, Dominic||Tonnu, Karine||van Oldenbeuving, Yasmijn||vanDellen, Michelle R||Vergara, Raiza C||Walker, Jasmine S||Waugh, Christian E||Weise, Feline||Werner, Kaitlyn M||Wheeler, Craig||White, Rachel A||Wichman, Aaron L||Wiggins, Bradford J||Wills, Julian A||Wilson, Janie H||Wagenmakers, Eric-Jan||Albarracín, Dolores

publication date

  • January 2021