We replicated Experiment 3 by Elliot et al. (2010), but the results were different from the original study for 2 out of 3 outcome variables:
- In the original study, Elliot et al. (2010) reported higher perceived attractiveness in the red (M = 6.69, SD = 1.22) than gray condition (M = 5.27, SD = 2.04), and this difference was statistically significant: t(32) = 2.44, p < .05. In our replication the perceived attractiveness scores were not statistically different in the red (M = 6.05, SD = 1.59) and gray condition (M = 5.96, SD = 1.49), t(37) = 0.17, p = .82.
- In the original study, Elliot et al. (2010) reported higher sexual attraction in the red condition (M = 5.41, SD = 2.18) compared to the gray condition (M = 3.81, SD = 1.52), t(32) = 2.43, p < .05. In our replication the sexual attraction scores were not statistically different in the red (M = 4.22, SD = 2.08) and gray condition (M = 4.63, SD = 1.40), t(37) = -0.71, p = .48.
- Elliot et al. (2010) found no statistically significant difference between the likeability scores in the red and gray condition. The means and standard deviations were not reported, but the p-value was reported as p > .63. In line with the original study's results, in our replication the perceived likeability scores were not statistically different in the red (M = 6.48, SD = 0.77) and gray condition (M = 6.57, SD = 1.10), t(37) = -0.32, p = .76.
- While the results from the original study failed to replicate for 2
out of 3 outcome variables, it should be noted that the sample size
was small and thus no definite conclusion can be made.