Does Self-Control Training Improve Self-Control? A Meta-Analysis
Friese M, Frankenbach J, Job V, Loschelder DD · 2017
grade Bmeta-analysisindependentmixed
Sample
33 studies yielding 158 effect sizes, published and unpublished, mostly adult and laboratory samples
Population
Predominantly adults; self-control training experiments.
Design
The meta-analysis that applies the corrections this literature usually avoids - trim-and-fill and PET-PEESE - alongside moderator tests for control-group type and author allegiance.
Key findings
The uncorrected effect is g = 0.30 (95% CI 0.17 to 0.42). Bias-corrected it falls to a range of 0.13 to 0.24. Effects were larger for stamina than strength paradigms, larger against INACTIVE than active control groups, larger for males, and - the finding this archive weights - larger WHEN PROPONENTS OF THE STRENGTH MODEL OF SELF-CONTROL WERE AUTHORS OR CO-AUTHORS, an explicit allegiance effect. The authors note that the mechanisms underlying the effect are poorly understood.
Genetic confound
Low - randomised training experiments.
Replication notes
Mixed at best. The effect survives bias correction only at 0.13 to 0.24, shrinks against active controls, and varies with who wrote the paper.
DOI / URL
10.1177/1745691617697076
Effects
| Outcome | Metric | Value | Measure | Timing | Vs | Horizon | Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-control training, uncorrected | Hedges g | 0.30 (95% CI 0.17 to 0.42) | mixed | post-training | unclear | end-of-treatment | non-cognitive |
| Self-control training, publication-bias corrected | Hedges g | 0.13 to 0.24 across correction methods | mixed | post-training | unclear | end-of-treatment | non-cognitive |
| Author allegiance moderator | direction | larger effects when strength-model proponents were authors | mixed | post-training | unclear | end-of-treatment | non-cognitive |
| Control-group type moderator | direction | larger against inactive than active controls | mixed | post-training | active-alternative | end-of-treatment | non-cognitive |
Cited by
- Are self-control and grit teachable levers on achievement?mixedconf: highgc: medium