1 Demo Version of Experiment

To see a demo of the experiment in a separate browser window, click here.

To download the program files of the experiment, click here.

To download the program files for the animations, click here. They were created in the (free) physics simulator algodoo (http://www.algodoo.com/).

2 Pre-Registration

The OSF pre-registration can be accessed here.

3 Test planning (a priori power analysis)

see pre-registration.

4 Data

4.1 Data set information

The data set contains the following columns:

  • subj_code: a random subject ID (anonymous)
  • condition: a numeric condition variable
  • desktop_conf: subjects’ confirmation of taking part via PC or Laptop
  • attent_conf: subjects’ confirmation to pay attention
  • intro_check: subjects answers to the video check question testing if subjects can see the clips
  • structure: condition variable coding whether causal structure was reversible or irreversible
  • first_object: counterbalancing variable coding which cause appeared first
  • learn_check_red: (dv) subjects’ responses to the learning video in which the left cause acts alone
  • learn_check_yellow: (dv) subjects’ responses to the learning video in which the right cause acts alone
  • red_caused_rating: subjects’ ratings for the trigger causal statement about the first cause (dv)
  • yellow_caused_rating: subjects’ ratings for the trigger causal statement about second first cause (dv)
  • red_maintained_rating: subjects’ ratings for the maintaining causal statement about the first cause (dv)
  • yellow_maintained_rating: subjects’ ratings for the maintaining causal statement about the second cause (dv)
  • timing_check: check question probing subjects’ understanding of the causal reversibility of the scenario
  • recorded_at: the date and time participants did the study
  • age: subjects’ age in year
  • gender: subjects’ gender
  • tech_issues: subjects’ report of potential technical problems
  • timing_check_correct: column coding whether subjects correctly remembered the order in which the causes acted in the test situation
  • learning_check_correct: codes whether subjects answered the learning video check questions correctly

6 Pilot study

The pilot study tested N = 37 subjects and everything was exactly as in the main study. For further details about the sample and the results, see the analysis script linked below.

2024 Simon Stephan.