OCD-like checking in the lab: A meta-analysis and improvement of an experimental paradigm

• Published in: Journal of obsessive-compulsive and related disorders 2019-01, Vol.20, p.39-49
• Main Authors: van den Hout, Marcel A., van Dis, Eva A.M., van Woudenberg, Clair, van de Groep, Ilse H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Experiment; Memory; Meta-analysis; OCD; Paradigm; Repeated checking
• ISSN: 2211-3649; 2211-3657
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jocrd.2017.11.006

Van den Hout and Kindt (2003a) developed a Virtual Gas Stove Checking paradigm. They demonstrated that repeated checking resulted in lower confidence and reduced the vividness and detail of recollections. Over the past decades, many experiments have used (an adaptation of) this experimental paradigm to study phenomena related to obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD). The first aim of the present study was to conduct a meta-analysis of experiments (k = 28; N = 1662) on the repeated checking paradigm. Repeated checking was found to have large effects on decreases in memory confidence, vividness and detail. Unexpectedly, repeated checking also produced small reductions in memory accuracy. The second aim of the present study was to develop an improved version of the checking paradigm in which 1) stimuli presentations were fully balanced; and 2) the checking latency was comparable across stimuli in order to 3) assess actual checking behavior. The improved version (Virtual checking task 2.0) replicated earlier findings on meta-memory. •The virtual checking paradigm has often been used to test repeated checking effects.•A meta-analysis yielded large effects on memory confidence, vividness and detail.•The paradigm was improved to eliminate shortcomings of the previous version.•The improved paradigm replicated earlier findings and is freely available online.