Title: Effect Size Reporting in Social-Personality Research: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Rob Cribbie, Emily Panzarella, Linda Farmus, Naomi Martinez Gutierrez, Nataly Beribisky, & Udi Alter

Abstract: In statistical reporting, effect sizes provide more valuable information than p-values. Accordingly, reporting and interpreting effect sizes has been recommended within Psychology. In the midst of a re-examination of statistical reporting within the field, it useful to examine how effect sizes are reported within Social-Personality Psychology. To date, we know of no other intensive review of effect size reporting within this discipline. In this review, we investigate the reporting of effect sizes within articles published in six high-impact Social-Personality journals in 2018. Some of the results, including generic effect size reporting, are promising, whereas other results, including reporting and interpreting CIs for effect sizes, still need improvement. However, the most important result from the study surrounds the question of whether or not authors interpret the magnitude of their effect sizes within the context of the study; it turns out the question is much complicated than first thought. We include recommendations for improving effect size reporting in Social-Personality Psychology.

Slides: Download slides