The Effects of Augmented Feedback, Focus of Attention, and Monetary Reward on Vertical Jump Height: A Replication Study.

Abstract

Reproducibility and replicability of published empirical scientific evidence are fundamental for verifying key findings, identifying errors and/or boundary conditions, and upholding rigorous research standards. For this replication study, the primary goal was to assess the replicability of the findings from Wälchli et al. (2016), which investigated the role of augmented feedback (AF), external focus of attention (EF), and reward (RE), as well as a combination of these conditions on countermovement jump height. The original study sample included 18 resistance-trained male and female participants, while this replication included 38 (19 male, 19 female). Participants performed maximal countermovement jumps in six different conditions: neutral (NE), aF, RE, aF + EF, aF + RE, and aF + EF + RE. Results showed a non-significant effect of condition on jump height (p = 0.612, η_p ² = 0.015) which was in contrast to the original study. Furthermore, the replication effect size was not compatible with the original effect size estimate as it was significantly smaller. There was also no significant effect of condition on muscle excitation or kinetic variables. The present study demonstrated that each combination of AF, EF, and RE did not affect vertical jump performance. Therefore, we were unable to replicate the findings from the original study in this close replication.