Abstract
How can we maximize what is learned from a replication study? In the creative destruction approach to replication, the original hypothesis is compared not only to the null hypothesis, but also to predictions derived from multiple alternative theoretical accounts of the phenomenon. To this end, new populations and measures are included in the design in addition to the original ones, to help determine which theory best accounts for the results across multiple key outcomes and contexts. The present pre-registered empirical project compared the Implicit Puritanism account of intuitive work and sex morality to theories positing regional, religious, and social class differences; explicit rather than implicit cultural differences in values; self-expression vs. survival values as a key cultural fault line; the general moralization of work; and false positive effects. Contradicting Implicit Puritanism's core theoretical claim of a distinct American work morality, a number of targeted findings replicated across multiple comparison cultures, whereas several failed to replicate in all samples and were identified as likely false positives. No support emerged for theories predicting regional variability and specific individual-differences moderators (religious affiliation, religiosity, and education level). Overall, the results provide evidence that work is intuitively moralized across cultures.
Highlights
☆ This paper has been recommended for acceptance by Joris Lammers. * Corresponding authors at: INSEAD, Organisational Behaviour Area, 1 Ayer Rajah Avenue, 138676, Singapore
The results of this first set of replications confirm a number of the original experimental effects (Poehlman, 2007; Uhlmann et al, 2009, 2011), yet at the same time depart in theoretically informative ways from the original research
Neither Americans nor members of several compar ison cultures appear to be sensitive to the age of a lottery winner who decides to retire vs. continue working, people across a number of cultures do appear to morally praise needless work
Summary
☆ This paper has been recommended for acceptance by Joris Lammers. * Corresponding authors at: INSEAD, Organisational Behaviour Area, 1 Ayer Rajah Avenue, 138676, Singapore. Employing what we term a “creative destruction” approach to replication, we leveraged the complex set of experimental results and cultural differences hypothesized by Implicit Puritanism to further prespecify alternative results predicted by competing accounts of work and sex morality. A number of these alternative frameworks posit that reli gious, regional, and social class differences are more important than national differences Another perspective argues that cultural differ ences in the relevant values are explicit and conscious rather than im plicit and nonconscious. Another competing theory proposes that implicit orientations towards work and sexuality are consistent across cultures, perhaps due to common evolutionary roots. In the Origin of Species, Darwin (1872) noted that “extinction of old forms is the almost inevitable consequence of the production of new forms.”
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