Burkett, B. N., Kurzban, R. O., & Kirkpatrick, L. A. (2003). Cheater
detection on the Wason task: A test of social exchange theory versus dominance
theory. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Abstract
Cummins (1999) recently showed that performance on a Wason task is moderated
by the relative status of the participant and target, in line with dominance
theory (Cummins, 1996) but contrary to social exchange theory (Cosmides,
1989). However, a confound in one of these designs renders the results
potentially interpretable in terms of social exchange theory. In
3 studies (total N = 484) designed to manipulate the confound independently
of status manipulations, no significant effects were found for either relative
status or the new manipulation. In a fourth study, using Cummins' original
materials, we failed to replicate the relative-status effect in two large
samples (combined N = 345). Possible methodological and theoretical
reasons for the failure to replicate the original finding are discussed.
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