A new paper in Psychological Science reports a failure to replicate Study 2 of Ariely and Wertenbroch's influential 2002 article on procrastination and deadlines. The original study, with over 2,100 citations, found people performed better with externally imposed deadlines versus self-set or single deadlines. Researchers analyzing original data files from 2006 conclude the data in Studies 1 and 2 were tampered with.

Kyle Hyndman received original data files in April 2006 from [email protected]. In August 2023, Hyndman shared files with the authors, who then conducted analyses. Footnote 14 of the replication paper reveals that in October 2024, editors requested sharing analysis with Dan Ariely, who denied permission, arguing the files may not be actual data. Ariely did not provide additional data.

Klaus Wertenbroch reportedly never had access to study data. When Hyndman contacted authors in 2006, Wertenbroch replied with data access. The authors shared findings with Ariely and Wertenbroch, who requested retraction from Psychological Science; that process is ongoing. Study 2 involved 60 participants proofreading three 10-page documents with 100 errors each.