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The Prevalence and Prevention of Crosstalk: A Multi-Institutional Study

  • John E. Edlund
  • , Austin Lee Nichols
  • , Bradley M. Okdie
  • , Rosanna E. Guadagno
  • , Cassie A. Eno
  • , Jeremy D. Heider
  • , Edward J. Hansen
  • , Brad J. Sagarin
  • , Ginette Blackhart
  • , Catherine A. Cottrell
  • , Kenneth Tyler Wilcox
  • Rochester Institute of Technology
  • Universidad de Navarra
  • The Ohio State University at Newark
  • National Science Foundation
  • Bellevue University
  • Southeast Missouri State University
  • Northern Illinois University
  • New College of Florida

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

Abstract

It is a common problem in psychology subject pools for past study participants to inform future participants of key experimental details (also known as crosstalk). Previous research (Edlund, Sagarin, Skowronski, Johnson, & Kutter, 2009) demonstrated that a combined classroom and laboratory treatment could significantly reduce crosstalk. The present investigation tested a laboratory-only treatment for the prevention of crosstalk at five universities, along with institutional-level moderators of crosstalk. Results indicated the presence of crosstalk at all universities and that the laboratory-based treatment was effective in reducing crosstalk. Importantly, crosstalk rates were higher (but successfully neutralized) in research pools with higher research credit requirements. Therefore, this research provides valuable guidance regarding crosstalk prevalence and its minimization by researchers.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)181-185
JournalJournal of Social Psychology
Volume154
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 4 2014

Keywords

  • crosstalk
  • data integrity
  • participant pools
  • research methods
  • social influence

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