On making the right choice: a meta-analysis and large-scale replication attempt of the unconscious thought advantage

Nieuwenstein (2015) ยท Read the paper

A meta-analysis and large replication with 399 participants testing the unconscious thought advantage, the claim that complex decisions are better made after a period of distraction than after conscious thought. The replication found no evidence for the advantage, and earlier positive findings were confined to underpowered studies.

A meta-analysis and large replication with 399 participants testing the unconscious thought advantage, the claim that complex decisions are better made after a period of distraction than after conscious thought. The replication found no evidence for the advantage, and earlier positive findings were confined to underpowered studies.

Written from the abstract read 2026-10-11.

What our sources record

Reproduced as it was written when this source was checked, figures and all.

doi:10.1017/s1930297500003144. 399 participants; no evidence for the advantage.