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Cognitive reflection and 2D:4D: Evidence from a large population sample

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  • Neyse, Levent
  • Fossen, Frank M.
  • Johannesson, Magnus
  • Dreber, Anna

Abstract

Bosch-Domènech et al. (2014) reported a negative association between 2D:4D, a suggested marker of prenatal testosterone exposure, and the Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT) in a sample of 623 university students. In this pre-registered study, we test whether we can replicate their findings in a general population sample of over 2,500 individuals from Germany. We find no statistically significant association between 2D:4D and the CRT in any of our primary hypothesis tests, or in any of our pre-registered exploratory analyses and robustness tests. The evidence is strong (based on the 99.5% confidence intervals in all three primary hypotheses tests) against effect sizes in the hypothesized direction larger than 0.075 CRT units (0.073 of the CRT standard deviation) for a one standard deviation change in 2D:4D.

Suggested Citation

  • Neyse, Levent & Fossen, Frank M. & Johannesson, Magnus & Dreber, Anna, 2023. "Cognitive reflection and 2D:4D: Evidence from a large population sample," Discussion Papers, Research Unit: Market Behavior SP II 2023-201, WZB Berlin Social Science Center.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:wzbmbh:spii2023201
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cognitive Reflection Test; 2D:4D; Replication; Prenatal Testosterone; Sex;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D87 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Neuroeconomics
    • D9 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics

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