A replication of Triplett’s ‘social facilitation experiment’

TL;DR

This study replicates Triplett's classic experiment on social facilitation, showing that children perform a task faster when working together than alone.

Contribution

The study provides the first direct replication of Triplett’s original paradigm with methodological improvements to reduce confounding factors.

Findings

Participants completed the task faster in the together condition than in the alone condition.

Variability in performance was observed based on age and gender.

Carryover effects were detected, indicating order-dependent influences on task performance.

Abstract

A seminal study by Triplett provided initial evidence for the social facilitation effect, and over the last century, research has demonstrated this effect across a range of settings. However, despite the importance attributed to Triplett’s study, no research has replicated the original study paradigm. Furthermore, in the context of research advances and methodological rigour, some elements of the original study weaken the validity of the observed findings. We address these critical limitations and replicate the original study, employing a standardized study protocol to minimize potential confounds, such as practice effects. This research reports on 445 school-aged children (Mage = 10.8, SD = 1.3) who completed the study. As pre-registered in our Stage 1 submission, using a purpose-built apparatus, participants turned a crank to move a marker along a string course between two pulleys. Pairs of participants completed this task four times, twice alone and twice together. Trial order was standardized and balanced to control for possible order/practice effects. In line with Triplett’s original study, we show that participants completed the task faster in the together condition than in the alone condition. We also show interesting variability depending on age and gender, as well as demonstrating “carryover” effects. Thus, we replicate and extend this classic finding, adding to the literature on social facilitation/competitive coaction. In addition, the materials and methods developed here provide a template for future studies to further examine this phenomenon.

The Stage 1 protocol for this Registered Report is available at https://osf.io/vsgpq, and appears as accepted in principle by the journal on 10th August 2022.

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