PsychCrunch

Episode 8

Nov 7, 2016

Brian Earp, a researcher affiliated with Oxford and Yale, delves into the thorny issue of trust in psychological studies. He shares insights on the replication crisis, highlighting the implications of failed attempts to replicate notable findings like power posing and the Macbeth effect. Brian reflects on the importance of adaptability in scientific beliefs and the need for constructive critiques within academia. His candid discussion encourages researchers to embrace their own negative findings, underscoring the value of integrity in psychological research.

10:14

Creator website

Episode guests

Brian Earp

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

The podcast emphasizes the importance of scrutinizing psychological findings, particularly in light of recent replication crises, urging a cautious evaluation of evidence before acceptance.

Brian Earp's experience with failed replication highlights the need for transparency in research, encouraging scientists to openly share negative results to strengthen the field.

Deep dives

The Importance of Evaluating Psychological Findings

Recent revelations about the lack of replicability in psychology research raise significant concerns regarding which findings can be trusted. For instance, the disavowal of power posing effects by its original researcher highlights the necessity for a cautious approach to new psychology claims. It is vital for both the media and the public to adopt a more deliberate attitude toward evaluating scientific studies, considering the strength of evidence before applying findings to everyday life. This careful evaluation extends even to popular theories, such as the idea of willpower as a limited resource, which may also face scrutiny despite extensive supportive research.

Intro

2min

Navigating the Challenges of Replication in Psychology

3min

Challenges in Replicating Psychological Effects

3min

Navigating Academic Reception and the Importance of Constructive Critique

2min

This is Episode 8 of PsychCrunch, the podcast from the British Psychological Society's Research Digest, sponsored by Routledge Psychology.

Can we trust psychological studies? We speak to Brian Earp, of Oxford University and Yale University, about how to respond when we're told repeatedly that the veracity of eye-catching findings, or even cherished theories, has come under scrutiny. Brian also talks about his own experience of publishing a failed replication attempt – a must-listen for any researchers who are fearful of publishing their own negative findings. Find Brian on Twitter @BrianDavidEarp

Episode credits: Presented and produced by Christian Jarrett. Mixing and editing Jeff Knowler. PsychCrunch theme music Catherine Loveday and Jeff Knowler. Additional music Legrand Jones (via Pond5). Art work Tim Grimshaw.

Studies discussed:

Assessing the Robustness of Power Posing

A Multi-Lab Pre-Registered Replication of the Ego-Depletion Paradigm

A Multilab Direct Replication of Study 1 From Strack, Martin, & Stepper (1988)

Out, damned spot: Can the “Macbeth Effect” be replicated?