A Multisite Preregistered Paradigmatic Test of the Ego-Depletion Effect

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

doi:10.1177/0956797621989733

A Multisite Preregistered Paradigmatic Test of the Ego-Depletion Effect

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

^*Corresponding author for this work

Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

78 Scopus citations

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 (δ = 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.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1566-1581
Number of pages	16
Journal	Psychological Science
Volume	32
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797621989733
State	Published - Oct 2021

Keywords

ego depletion
open data
open materials
preregistered
registered replication
self-control

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Psychology(all)

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10.1177/0956797621989733

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Vohs, K. D., Schmeichel, B. J., Lohmann, S., Gronau, Q. F., Finley, A. J., Ainsworth, S. E., Alquist, J. L., Baker, M. D., Brizi, A., Bunyi, A., Butschek, G. J., Campbell, C., Capaldi, J., Cau, C., Chambers, H., Chatzisarantis, N. L. D., Christensen, W. J., Clay, S. L., Curtis, J., ... Albarracín, D. (2021). A Multisite Preregistered Paradigmatic Test of the Ego-Depletion Effect. Psychological Science, 32(10), 1566-1581. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797621989733

@article{54b706f06afa4dd9a59e3f3132087136,

title = "A Multisite Preregistered Paradigmatic Test of the Ego-Depletion Effect",

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 (δ = 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.",

keywords = "ego depletion, open data, open materials, preregistered, registered replication, self-control",

author = "Vohs, {Kathleen D.} and Schmeichel, {Brandon J.} and Sophie Lohmann and Gronau, {Quentin F.} and Finley, {Anna J.} and Ainsworth, {Sarah E.} and Alquist, {Jessica L.} and Baker, {Michael D.} and Ambra Brizi and Angelica Bunyi and Butschek, {Grant J.} and Collier Campbell and Jonathan Capaldi and Chuting Cau and Heather Chambers and Chatzisarantis, {Nikos L.D.} and Christensen, {Weston J.} and Clay, {Samuel L.} and Jessica Curtis and {De Cristofaro}, Valeria and {del Rosario}, Kareena and Katharina Diel and Yasemin Doğruol and Megan Doi and Donaldson, {Tina L.} and Eder, {Andreas B.} and Mia Ersoff and Eyink, {Julie R.} and Angelica Falkenstein and Fennis, {Bob M.} and Findley, {Matthew B.} and Finkel, {Eli J.} and Victoria Forgea and Malte Friese and Paul Fuglestad and Garcia-Willingham, {Natasha E.} and Geraedts, {Lea F.} and Gervais, {Will M.} and Mauro Giacomantonio and Bryan Gibson and Karolin Gieseler and Justina Gineikiene and Gloger, {Elana M.} and Gobes, {Carina M.} and Maria Grande and Hagger, {Martin S.} and Bethany Hartsell and Hermann, {Anthony D.} and Hidding, {Jasper J.} and Hirt, {Edward R.} and Josh Hodge and Wilhelm Hofmann and Howell, {Jennifer L.} and Hutton, {Robert D.} and Michael Inzlicht and Lily James and Emily Johnson and Johnson, {Hannah L.} and Joyce, {Sarah M.} and Yannick Joye and Kaben, {Jan Helge} and Kammrath, {Lara K.} and Kelly, {Caitlin N.} and Kissell, {Brian L.} and Koole, {Sander L.} and Anand Krishna and Christine Lam and Lee, {Kelemen T.} and Nick Lee and Leighton, {Dana C.} and Loschelder, {David D.} and Maranges, {Heather M.} and Masicampo, {E. J.} and Kennedy Mazara and Samantha McCarthy and Ian McGregor and Mead, {Nicole L.} and Mendes, {Wendy B.} and Carine Meslot and Michalak, {Nicholas M.} and Marina Milyavskaya and Akira Miyake and Mehrad Moeini-Jazani and Mark Muraven and Erin Nakahara and Krishna Patel and Petrocelli, {John V.} and Pollak, {Katja M.} and Price, {Mindi M.} and Ramsey, {Haley J.} and Maximilian Rath and Robertson, {Jacob A.} and Rachael Rockwell and Russ, {Isabella F.} and Marco Salvati and Blair Saunders and Anne Scherer and Astrid Sch{\"u}tz and Schmitt, {Kristin N.} and Segerstrom, {Suzanne C.} and Benjamin Serenka and Konstantyn Sharpinskyi and Meaghan Shaw and Janelle Sherman and Yu Song and Nicholas Sosa and Kaitlyn Spillane and Julia Stapels and Stinnett, {Alec J.} and Strawser, {Hannah R.} and Kate Sweeny and Dominic Theodore and Karine Tonnu and {van Oldenbeuving}, Yasmijn and vanDellen, {Michelle R.} and Vergara, {Raiza C.} and Walker, {Jasmine S.} and Waugh, {Christian E.} and Feline Weise and Werner, {Kaitlyn M.} and Craig Wheeler and White, {Rachel A.} and Wichman, {Aaron L.} and Wiggins, {Bradford J.} and Wills, {Julian A.} and Wilson, {Janie H.} and Wagenmakers, {Eric Jan} and Dolores Albarrac{\'i}n",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2021.",

year = "2021",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1177/0956797621989733",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "32",

pages = "1566--1581",

journal = "Psychological Science",

issn = "0956-7976",

publisher = "SAGE Publications Inc.",

number = "10",

}

Vohs, KD, Schmeichel, BJ, Lohmann, S, Gronau, QF, Finley, AJ, Ainsworth, SE, Alquist, JL, Baker, MD, Brizi, A, Bunyi, A, Butschek, GJ, Campbell, C, Capaldi, J, Cau, C, Chambers, H, Chatzisarantis, NLD, Christensen, WJ, Clay, SL, Curtis, J, De Cristofaro, V, del Rosario, K, Diel, K, Doğruol, Y, Doi, M, Donaldson, TL, Eder, AB, Ersoff, M, Eyink, JR, Falkenstein, A, Fennis, BM, Findley, MB, Finkel, EJ, Forgea, V, Friese, M, Fuglestad, P, Garcia-Willingham, NE, Geraedts, LF, Gervais, WM, Giacomantonio, M, Gibson, B, Gieseler, K, Gineikiene, J, Gloger, EM, Gobes, CM, Grande, M, Hagger, MS, Hartsell, B, Hermann, AD, Hidding, JJ, Hirt, ER, Hodge, J, Hofmann, W, Howell, JL, Hutton, RD, Inzlicht, M, James, L, Johnson, E, Johnson, HL, Joyce, SM, Joye, Y, Kaben, JH, Kammrath, LK, Kelly, CN, Kissell, BL, Koole, SL, Krishna, A, Lam, C, Lee, KT, Lee, N, Leighton, DC, Loschelder, DD, Maranges, HM, Masicampo, EJ, Mazara, K, McCarthy, S, McGregor, I, Mead, NL, Mendes, WB, Meslot, C, Michalak, NM, Milyavskaya, M, Miyake, A, Moeini-Jazani, M, Muraven, M, Nakahara, E, Patel, K, Petrocelli, JV, Pollak, KM, Price, MM, Ramsey, HJ, Rath, M, Robertson, JA, Rockwell, R, Russ, IF, Salvati, M, Saunders, B, Scherer, A, Schütz, A, Schmitt, KN, Segerstrom, SC, Serenka, B, Sharpinskyi, K, Shaw, M, Sherman, J, Song, Y, Sosa, N, Spillane, K, Stapels, J, Stinnett, AJ, Strawser, HR, Sweeny, K, Theodore, D, Tonnu, K, van Oldenbeuving, Y, vanDellen, MR, Vergara, RC, Walker, JS, Waugh, CE, Weise, F, Werner, KM, Wheeler, C, White, RA, Wichman, AL, Wiggins, BJ, Wills, JA, Wilson, JH, Wagenmakers, EJ & Albarracín, D 2021, 'A Multisite Preregistered Paradigmatic Test of the Ego-Depletion Effect', Psychological Science, vol. 32, no. 10, pp. 1566-1581. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797621989733

TY - JOUR

T1 - A Multisite Preregistered Paradigmatic Test of the Ego-Depletion Effect

AU - Vohs, Kathleen D.

AU - Schmeichel, Brandon J.

AU - Lohmann, Sophie

AU - Gronau, Quentin F.

AU - Finley, Anna J.

AU - Ainsworth, Sarah E.

AU - Alquist, Jessica L.

AU - Baker, Michael D.

AU - Brizi, Ambra

AU - Bunyi, Angelica

AU - Butschek, Grant J.

AU - Campbell, Collier

AU - Capaldi, Jonathan

AU - Cau, Chuting

AU - Chambers, Heather

AU - Chatzisarantis, Nikos L.D.

AU - Christensen, Weston J.

AU - Clay, Samuel L.

AU - Curtis, Jessica

AU - De Cristofaro, Valeria

AU - del Rosario, Kareena

AU - Diel, Katharina

AU - Doğruol, Yasemin

AU - Doi, Megan

AU - Donaldson, Tina L.

AU - Eder, Andreas B.

AU - Ersoff, Mia

AU - Eyink, Julie R.

AU - Falkenstein, Angelica

AU - Fennis, Bob M.

AU - Findley, Matthew B.

AU - Finkel, Eli J.

AU - Forgea, Victoria

AU - Friese, Malte

AU - Fuglestad, Paul

AU - Garcia-Willingham, Natasha E.

AU - Geraedts, Lea F.

AU - Gervais, Will M.

AU - Giacomantonio, Mauro

AU - Gibson, Bryan

AU - Gieseler, Karolin

AU - Gineikiene, Justina

AU - Gloger, Elana M.

AU - Gobes, Carina M.

AU - Grande, Maria

AU - Hagger, Martin S.

AU - Hartsell, Bethany

AU - Hermann, Anthony D.

AU - Hidding, Jasper J.

AU - Hirt, Edward R.

AU - Hodge, Josh

AU - Hofmann, Wilhelm

AU - Howell, Jennifer L.

AU - Hutton, Robert D.

AU - Inzlicht, Michael

AU - James, Lily

AU - Johnson, Emily

AU - Johnson, Hannah L.

AU - Joyce, Sarah M.

AU - Joye, Yannick

AU - Kaben, Jan Helge

AU - Kammrath, Lara K.

AU - Kelly, Caitlin N.

AU - Kissell, Brian L.

AU - Koole, Sander L.

AU - Krishna, Anand

AU - Lam, Christine

AU - Lee, Kelemen T.

AU - Lee, Nick

AU - Leighton, Dana C.

AU - Loschelder, David D.

AU - Maranges, Heather M.

AU - Masicampo, E. J.

AU - Mazara, Kennedy

AU - McCarthy, Samantha

AU - McGregor, Ian

AU - Mead, Nicole L.

AU - Mendes, Wendy B.

AU - Meslot, Carine

AU - Michalak, Nicholas M.

AU - Milyavskaya, Marina

AU - Miyake, Akira

AU - Moeini-Jazani, Mehrad

AU - Muraven, Mark

AU - Nakahara, Erin

AU - Patel, Krishna

AU - Petrocelli, John V.

AU - Pollak, Katja M.

AU - Price, Mindi M.

AU - Ramsey, Haley J.

AU - Rath, Maximilian

AU - Robertson, Jacob A.

AU - Rockwell, Rachael

AU - Russ, Isabella F.

AU - Salvati, Marco

AU - Saunders, Blair

AU - Scherer, Anne

AU - Schütz, Astrid

AU - Schmitt, Kristin N.

AU - Segerstrom, Suzanne C.

AU - Serenka, Benjamin

AU - Sharpinskyi, Konstantyn

AU - Shaw, Meaghan

AU - Sherman, Janelle

AU - Song, Yu

AU - Sosa, Nicholas

AU - Spillane, Kaitlyn

AU - Stapels, Julia

AU - Stinnett, Alec J.

AU - Strawser, Hannah R.

AU - Sweeny, Kate

AU - Theodore, Dominic

AU - Tonnu, Karine

AU - van Oldenbeuving, Yasmijn

AU - vanDellen, Michelle R.

AU - Vergara, Raiza C.

AU - Walker, Jasmine S.

AU - Waugh, Christian E.

AU - Weise, Feline

AU - Werner, Kaitlyn M.

AU - Wheeler, Craig

AU - White, Rachel A.

AU - Wichman, Aaron L.

AU - Wiggins, Bradford J.

AU - Wills, Julian A.

AU - Wilson, Janie H.

AU - Wagenmakers, Eric Jan

AU - Albarracín, Dolores

PY - 2021/10

Y1 - 2021/10

N2 - 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 (δ = 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.

AB - 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 (δ = 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.

KW - ego depletion

KW - open data

KW - open materials

KW - preregistered

KW - registered replication

KW - self-control

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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85115014809&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/0956797621989733

DO - 10.1177/0956797621989733

M3 - Article

C2 - 34520296

AN - SCOPUS:85115014809

SN - 0956-7976

VL - 32

SP - 1566

EP - 1581

JO - Psychological Science

JF - Psychological Science

IS - 10

ER -

A Multisite Preregistered Paradigmatic Test of the Ego-Depletion Effect

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