Abstract
Previous studies have shown that the hand-over-heart gesture is related to being more honest as opposed to using self-centered dishonesty. We assumed that the hand-over-heart gesture would also relate to other-oriented dishonesty, though the latter differs highly from self-centered lying. In Study 1 (N = 79), we showed that performing a hand-over-heart gesture diminished the tendency to use other-oriented white lies and that the fingers crossed behind one’s back gesture was not related to higher dishonesty. We then pre-registered and conducted Study 2 (N = 88), which was designed following higher methodological standards than Study 1. Contrary, to the findings of Study 1, we found that using the hand-over-heart gesture did not result in refraining from using other-oriented white lies. We discuss the findings of this failed replication indicating the importance of strict methodological guidelines in conducting research and also reflect on relatively small effect sizes related to some findings in embodied cognition.
Highlights
Chandler Bing: Janice said “Hi, do I look fat today?” So I looked at her
Replication Honesty Gestures presenting the research we have conducted and the results we found, we focus on both theoretical and methodological issues related to the hand-over-heart gesture effect on other-oriented white lies
The results showed a main effect of the gesture F(2,75) = 5.16, p = 0.008, η2 = 0.12.3 Comparison of means with Bonferroni correction showed that there was a significant difference between the hand over elbow gesture (M = 1.04, SD = 0.92) and hand-over-heart (M = 0.27, SD = 0.78), p = 0.006, while the fingers crossed gesture results did not differ from the aforementioned significantly (M = 0.67, SD = 1.07)
Summary
Chandler Bing: Janice said “Hi, do I look fat today?” So I looked at her. Ross Geller: Whoa, whoa. We started writing this article with the idea to focus on the possible effects of the hand-overheart gesture on refraining from using other-oriented white lies. The experiments presented in this article were designed to test the idea that body gestures commonly associated with (dis)honesty influence white lies. We have drawn hypothesis from previous psychological research and designed and conducted a study (Study 1) to put this hypothesis to the test. The study, was designed and conducted few years ago, following our best intention and using the knowledge we had back which, looking at it today, was not flawless. As we truly hope not to be chasing noise with our scientific endeavor, we have decided to pre-register the design and conduct a replication of Study 1. This article shows first why we have developed the hypothesis we had and after
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
