Replication Study: Using Subtle Priming to Influence Card Choices in a Magic Trick

Abstract

Replication is crucial for increasing confidence in scientific findings. We replicated a priming study by Pailhes and Kuhn (2020) who found that participants who viewed a magic performance with subtle priming cues (gestures and words) were more likely to choose a target card (3 of diamonds) than those who did not view them. We replicated this effect using the original study’s recorded performances on a sample of adults (primarily IIT students) as part of an assignment in our Behavioral Science Research Methods class. We will look for differences in selection of the target card in the priming vs. neutral condition. We will test an additional hypothesis that states that psychology students will be more aware of the priming and more likely to suspect it because they might have learned about priming in their studies and could be more prone to look out for such signs. The priming effect is an important concept because it has serious implications for consumers who are exposed to influential advertisements, powerful leaders who can be manipulated to make big decisions “on their own”, and more.