Goodness of the side of the dominant hand: A registered direct replication of Casasanto (2009)

Abstract

People associate emotional valence with the side of their dominant and non-dominant hands. Specifically, positive (negative) valence is linked with the side of dominant (non-dominant) hand known as the horizontal-valence metaphor. A previous study demonstrated that participants placed a good (bad) object on the side of their dominant (non-dominant) hand (Casasanto, 2009, J. Exp. Psychol.: Gen, 138, 351–367). This phenomenon indicates that the horizontal-valence metaphor influences our behavior. However, subsequent studies reported that the effect of the horizontal-valence metaphor was not found in the other tasks. These studies raise the following question: Is the effect of the horizontal-valence metaphor robust? In the present registered report, we will conduct a direct replication of Experiment 1 from Casasanto’s study (2009). We will discuss the robustness of the effect of the horizontal-valence metaphor based on our results. # We have collected all data and the preprint of the accepted manuscript can be found at https://psyarxiv.com/4qnfk