Reasons for exclusion
Studies that coded the marshmallow test in ways other than time to delay: (e.g. waited full time yes/no; Callaway et al., 2007; Carlson, 2005; Da Silva et al., 2014; Paulsen & Johnson, 1980; van Reet, 2014; Likert-scale-type coding: Krietler & Zigler, 1990; Merz et al., 2015; Putnam et al., 2002; Weber, 2015; self-estimates of elapsed time: Miller & Karinol, 1976; numbers instead of wait time: Atance & Jaclson, 2009).
Studies that tested whether children wanted one reward now or two later (choice delay) were also not included (e.g. Bandura & Mischel, 1965; Herzberger & Dweck, 1978; Hongwanishkul et al., 2005; Imutaet al., 2014; Labuschagne et al., 2017; Mischel, 1958, 1961; Mischel & Grusec, 1967; Mischel & Metzner, 1972; Nisan et al., 1967; Prencipe & Zelazo, 2005; Schwarz et al., 1983; Seeman & Schwarz, 1974; Staub, 1972; Thompson et al., 1997; Tynan et al., 2014; Yu et al., 2016).
Children who were over the age of ten were not considered for this meta-analysis (e.g. Avci, 2013; Ayduk et al., 2000; Bruce et al., 2011; Corvi, 2010; Corvi et al., 2012; Duckworth et al., 2013; Funder & Block, 1989; Herndon, 2011; Kirby & Maraković, 1996; Meade, 2012; Rachlin et al., 1991; Rodriguez et al., 1989; Trommsdorff & Schmidt-Rinke, 1980; Waclawik, 2014; Watson & Milfont, 2015; Wulfert et al., 2002; Zytkoskee et al., 1971).
The gift delay task is very similar to the marshmallow task. In the gift delay, a gift is wrapped and children are told not to touch the gift until they get back. We excluded studies that solely used this task as it is substantively different from the marshmallow task. As the gift delay task has only one reward present (the gift), we a priori chose not to include it in this investigation. Studies that were eliminated sue to this inclusion include (but not limited to: Crivello et al., 2016; Cuskelly et al., 2006; Joyce et al., 2016; Mulder et al., 2014; Olson et al., 1999; Vaughn et al., 1984, 1986).
An alternate version of the delay of gratification task involves the alternate reward not being two of the preferred treat, but instead an increasing accumulation of treats, one at a time, periodically until the child breaks. Again, to allow for accurate estimation across ages, we exclude these studies as times are consistently lower than the marshmallow task. Studies excluded for these reasons include: (Hrabic, 2015; Lomranz et al., 1983; Richie & Toner, 1984; Toner, 1981; Toner & Smith, 1977; Toner et al., 1977, 1979, 1980).
Studies that altered the marshmallow task substantially were also excluded if no control group was available with standard instructions (e.g. Corfield et al., 1976; Kanfer et al., 1981; Kidd et al., 2013; Kochanska et al., 2000; Leonard et al., 2014; Maccoby et al., 1965; Michaelson & Munakata, 2016; Mischel & Moore, 1980; Mischel & Underwood, 1974; Yates et al., 1981).
One study was excluded for dropping all children who waited the full time (Joseph, 2015).
One study was axcluded for running the marshmallow test in an fmri scanner (Luersson et al., 2015).
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