Does Temporal Distance Influence Abstraction? A Large Pre-Registered Experiment

Construal level theory has been extraordinarily generative both within and beyond social psychology, yet the individual effects that form empirical foundation of have to be carefully probed precisely estimated using large samples preregistered analysis plans. In a highly powered study, we tested effect temporal distance on abstraction, one most common operationalizations (thinking about future point in time is day vs. year from today) abstraction (preference for more abstract concrete action representations, as assessed by Behavioral Identification Form). Participants preferred significantly representations distant (vs. near) condition, with an size d = .276, 95% CI [.097, .455]. We discuss implications, directions, constraints generality these results.