Is implicit Theory of Mind a robust cognitive phenomenon? Large-scale, multi-lab replication and validation studies with children and adults

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Johannes Rakoczy; Dr. Tobias Schuwerk
• Subject Area: Developmental and Educational Psychology
• Term: since 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 434233896

Nearly two decades ago, studies with spontaneous response tasks revolutionized research on Theory of Mind, our capacity to ascribe subjective mental states such as beliefs, desires and intentions, to others and ourselves. These studies suggested that even infants are capable of tracking other agents' false beliefs and thus challenged existing theoretical assumptions. However, recent years have witnessed a critical reevaluation of these paradigms: partial or failed replications have cast doubt upon their robustness. To address this uncertainty and provide clarity amidst the empirical puzzle, we co-founded and since then co-coordinate ManyBabies 2—a global, multi-lab collaborative research consortium. Our mission is threefold: to rigorously test the replicability and validity of the most impactful Theory of Mind paradigms, to refine methodologies and best practices for infant Theory of Mind research, and to foster adversarial collaborations aimed at pitting competing theoretical accounts against one another. In the initial phase of our project, we established ManyBabies 2 as a dynamic and effective international consortium. We laid down solid theoretical groundwork by bringing conceptual order to the current empirical situation and developed a robust methodological framework capable of facilitating studies involving hundreds of participants across numerous labs worldwide. This framework was validated through a registered report, wherein 47 labs spanning 17 countries and 4 continents collected eye-tracking data from 709 toddlers aged 18-27 months and 727 adults. Moving forward into our second funding period, our focus remains on addressing still open pivotal questions surrounding Theory of Mind in infancy. Through a series of consecutive multi-lab conceptual replication studies, we aim to deepen our understanding of the validity of current measures. Furthermore, by diversifying our participant pool to include individuals from various geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, we seek to identify and quantify the influence of moderators, thereby advancing our theoretical comprehension of early Theory of Mind development. Moreover, as our framework continues to evolve, we are committed to providing openly accessible methodological innovations and tools for best practices in open science within the field.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants