No effect of ‘watching eyes’: An attempted replication and extension investigating individual differences
Amanda Rotella; Adam Maxwell Sparks; Sandeep Mishra; Pat Barclay · 2021 · PLoS ONE
WASTE classifies this as Negative / Null Result Report · AI classification, approximate
The study found no significant effect — useful as a negative control or null benchmark for your own design.
The finding, in one line
“However, several recent studies have failed to find evidence of the eyes effect.”
Abstract
Some evidence suggests that people behave more cooperatively and generously when observed or in the presence of images of eyes (termed the 'watching eyes' effect). Eye images are thought to trigger feelings of observation, which in turn motivate people to behave more cooperatively to earn a good reputation. However, several recent studies have failed to find evidence of the eyes effect. One possibility is that inconsistent evidence in support of the eyes effect is a product of individual differences in sensitivity or susceptibility to the cue. In fact, some evidence suggests that people who ar
Abstract by Amanda Rotella; Adam Maxwell Sparks; Sandeep Mishra; Pat Barclay, PLoS ONE (2021) — licensed CC BY 4.0.
About to run something similar?
Run an AI Precheck on your own design to catch failure modes like this one before you spend the time. Your first desk check is free.
Related failures
Investigating Variation in Replicability
Negative / Null Result ReportMany Labs 2: Investigating Variation in Replicability Across Samples and Settings
Failed Experiment ReportGetting Ahead in the Communist Party: Explaining the Advancement of Central Committee Members in China
Negative / Null Result ReportReducing implicit racial preferences: II. Intervention effectiveness across time.
Negative / Null Result ReportTHE IMPACT OF IMMIGRATION ON THE STRUCTURE OF WAGES: THEORY AND EVIDENCE FROM BRITAIN
Negative / Null Result ReportRevisiting the Marshmallow Test: A Conceptual Replication Investigating Links Between Early Delay of Gratification and Later Outcomes
WASTE indexes this work — it does not host or republish it. Failure-type classification is automated and approximate.
Metadata source: OpenAlex · DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0255531