Negative Feedback Does Not Reverse Observationally Acquired Binding and Retrieval Effects: A Failed Replication

In the present study, we ran a replication of the experiment by Giesen et al. (2017) who found reversed observationally acquired stimulus-response binding and retrieval (oSRBR) effects after negative feedback and standard oSRBR effects after positive feedback. This suggests that feedback was used to infer action goals from observed actions, implying that oSRBR effects represent propositional information. However, their findings stand in contrast to recent studies on the influence of affective consequences like feedback on SR bindings stemming from self-performed actions. These studies consistently demonstrate that SR binding and retrieval effects emerge independently of feedback. This raises the question whether the findings by Giesen et al. (2017) reflect an alpha error. In our replication, we found no evidence for a modulatory influence of feedback on oSRBR effects. A meta-analysis with the data from Giesen et al. (2017) and our experiment revealed no significant modulatory effect of vicarious feedback on retrieval of observationally acquired SR bindings. In concert with recent literature, this implies that feedback information was not used to infer action goals, providing no evidence that oSRBR effects represent propositional information.